You're husband has the right idea if you have hard clay soil and you feel
the roots are not getting enough oxygen or the soil is not draining
properly. Otherwise, he shouldn't have to do this. Each season when
planting new flowers, add a little compost and composted manure to your beds
and you should have no problems with nutrition, air circulation for the
roots and drainage. You can mix in a couple of bags of each and turn it
over to make sure it's mixed well.

I own a flower planting business in Raleigh, NC and plant flowers for
residential customers every spring and fall. Once you get the soil in good
condition, you should be able to plant the flowers, side dress with
fertilizer and mulch the beds. You shouldn't have to touch them again until
the next season. Of course, weeding and watering is a must. You can also
boost them once or twice a month with a liquid fertilizer to give them their
maximum color and growth.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

Penny
Zone 7b - North Carolina (waiting for Hurricane Isabel)
"dixie dumplin" wrote in message
...
Hi I have been lurking and decided it was time!!
My name is Brenda I live in Detroit Mich where the weather has turned
off just great.
I need to ask a question here...
ok here goes...... all this summer I have made flower beds (wow broke my
back on this stuff) had such beautiful results... but every so often my
husband decides the plants need to breathe and digs up all around my
plants which messes up my beds..Now I have been a florist for thirty
years.. and have never heard of this..
I have such common plants..mums..
marigolds..nothing to be really worried about the care of...
Am I mistaken that this action Doesn't have to happen... the plants are
well watered and in good light and doing great!! is there such a need
as to let them breathe and dig the soil up around them..
couldn`t this disturb the roots...
just wanting to know....lol
a very nice group you have here... didn`t mean just to jump in with
questions... but I have to know before I take my stand :-)

~Bren