Conditioned soil is key to making beds bloom Add peat moss to your flower bed for a healthier soil,naturally. Toss and turn last night? Maybe it's your bed. Ask any sleep expert: The perfect bed is a precise combination of many elements, from mattress to box spring to blankets. Flowers need comfortable beds, too. The right plants, the exact amount of sun and water, the perfect location - all are crucial to helping flower beds prosper. Many gardeners have the basics down, but it's easy to forget about what may be the most crucial element of a healthy garden: conditioned soil. With properly conditioned soil as a foundation, you can create gardens of just about any color, shape or size. Well-conditioned soil has plenty of organic matter in it, which allows it to hold moisture, reduce runoff, let air get down to the roots and release nutrients as they're needed. The best source of organic matter is Canadian peat moss, which loosens heavy clay soil, adds body to sandy soil and saves water by absorbing moisture. To create your own healthy, conditioned soil, spread about 1 to 2 inches of Canadian Sphagnum peat moss onto your flower bed, then dig the peat into the top 6 inches of soil. Canadian peat moss is a sustainable resource. Only one acre in every 6,000 is harvested and when harvesting stops, the bogs are restored to functioning peatlands. For more information on peat moss, visit the CSPMA Web site at www.peatmoss.com.