Perennial soil preparation

From Gardening Wiki

How to Prepare Soil for the Perennial Border

As with annuals, but perhaps more so with perennials, the soil for borders should be deeply and thoroughly prepared; two to three feet is none too deep, for plants must remain in one place for a long time. In the case of Peonies it is detrimental to move them often and it is frequently two years, and in some soils three years, after moving a Peony plant before it blooms normally.

Another garden where the flower borders are brought close to the house. Here, too, are ornamental architectural objects, and brick path in herring-bone pattern

Manure and a complete fertilizer should be well worked into a new border.

All perennial borders profit by an application of bonemeal, hardwood ashes and sheep manure every year or two. Perennial borders which have been flowering year after year and to which much manure has continually been added, become somewhat sour and an application of slaked lime every two years is very beneficial. Many of the perennials do not attain their proper maturity before the Winter when they have been excessively fertilized and forced into continued sappy growth. They then suffer from cold. All soils for borders should be loose, so that they can be easily kept stirred. Soils are made light or loosened by manure, sand or coal ashes. Clay soils surely need some such treatment.