With the boulders now in place, we moved on to the next phase: final plant removals, soil preparation, and the first round of planting—trees and larger shrubs.

Ben directs the planting. Note large tree root ball on left.

Given the dry winter we’ve had, we pre-watered the work areas the week before starting soil prep. This helped soften the ground, making it easier to work with. Then, the shovels went in. Ben Wheelan and his crew from Ben’z Landscaping spent over a day clearing the old plants and tree roots from the areas designated for the new plantings.

Once the ground was ready, it was time for the trees and woody plants—the heaviest lifting of this project. Ben’s team dug the holes while working closely with Linda to ensure proper depth and root placement for each plant.

It can help to have a second set of eyes on a planting project: SFBG horticulturist Noah Gapsis spotted that a very special dwarf pinon—generously donated by Tracy Neal, a friend of the Garden—had been planted too deep. With a quick lift, Noah adjusted the plant, setting it at the correct height: the crown of the plant level with the surrounding grade.

With the trees in position, the next step was soil prep. The crew spread compost and fertilizer across the entire planting area, mixing it into the soil before smoothing and fine-tuning the grade in preparation for the smaller plants.

Now that the trees are settled and the soil is prepped, the space is really starting to feel like a garden!

Next up: finish the planting, then irrigating!