How come there is all that dirt on my walk?

The other day I was driving by a shopping center project and I was noticing they were filling up the planting beds with soil.

A couple of days later I drove by and they were finished. Finished? They were too finished.

One of my most common problems I have to correct is too much soil in planting beds. We all have seen planting areas with scallop edging along the sidewalk to keep the soil back. What happened is there was just too much soil in the bed and when it isd watered it runs out!

Why does it keep happening? Beats me. In case like the one I saw the other day 20 yards of soil was brought in at a cost of probably $1,000 by the time the soil was spread.

If it was necessary or even helpful on a commercial project like I saw, it probably is not a problem. Here though it is going to create a problem with just too much water in the parking lot and on the sidewalk

I personally like at least a 2" space between the soil and sidewalk and I would prefer 4".

What this does is provide a lip to hold the water and provide a lip that allows you to mulch. Mulching can do a lot to improve plant health.

If you have a planting bed that you think needs more soil look and measure. If it in fact does need 2 6" of soil I prefer to add humus and mix in in to the existing soil to improve the texture. If I need more than 6 " I will add hum,us and soil and mix them both in.

In any case keep the soil below any edging or walkways.