Do I tamp down my new bed?

[bunchofforgetmenots]

I've dug a new garden bed and filled it with new, finegrade topsoil. Should I tamp it down / compress it a bit before planting? Maybe get kids to run over it in wellies? Or should I leave it light and spongy? For reference, it's so light that if I step on it, my foot sinks 6 inches into the soil, like walking in fresh snow.

I put a new bed in the front of our yard last year and had a similar result. I decided to just water mine with the hose. It had the effect of putting a heavy crust over the surface which bedded it all in quite nicely, and stopped the lighter stuff being blown around onto the driveway.

Thanks DRS1970 I think I'll give your method a go. DD will be gutted as she fancied the wellies thing 😀I suspect stamping on it might compact it too much though

No compost underneath for nutrients?

No don't compress it! You only want to compress down once you've planted! Then you 'lightly' press down on the root ball for plants, bit more of a press for shrubs, really hard pressing down for trees!