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did i do the right thing for my garden? advice?

i never planted plants before <or maybe i did but that's just something for school, so anyway> but did some research and planning before doing some gardening in our front yard and now i'm worried that i may have had put too much steer manure blend in our garden. well, you see, this is what i did: - tilled the soil about 6-8 inches. - put 2-4 inch layer of Steer manure blend. Label: http://www.scotts.com/smg/catalog/productTemplate.jsp?tabs=general&proId=prod70587&itemId=cat60014&id=cat140002 basically not pure manure- it was mixed with compost and a whole lot of other organic stuff - added some potting mix, can't remember how much <forgot the brand name and its contents but i'm pretty sure that it's almost the same as the steer manure blend and something says slow-nitrogen release> - mixed them all together. - wet the soil - wait about 30 mins - planted some plants, dug deeper holes for replanting the big-rooted ones <bird of paradise, lily-of-the-nile/agapanthus, african iris, some daisies but not the gerber type, non-english lavender, sweet pea shrub, false heather, and some pansies> retained the soil from the pot though, which was originally from the nursery. watered the plants lightly mulched, about 1-2 inches <w/ tree barks, i don't know which from> i live in southern california and the soil here is not ideal for gardening and ours is like the dirt you see in a typical southern california freeway- very dry, dusty, pale, hard, compact, and rocky; so amending the soil is a definite must. the steer manure blend bag says 'put 1 inch or less' but our soil was never fertilized and amended before so i opted to put more to attain that dark rich-looking soil; so now i'm a bit worried coz i'm not sure if i over did it. btw, its in zone 8b, partial shade/sun. early morning and late afternoon sun. maybe that would minimize the burning effect of over-fertilizing.

Public Comments

1. I don't live in California, but am given to understand your climate and some soils are similar to ours in Australia. You will know within days if you have over fertilized as your plants will go yellow, some may survive, others might flourish. It is highly likely that you tilled the soil well enough to bypass total saturation and over fertilization. I have planted lemon trees in chicken runs and if you listen to all the experts, that is a no no as it is too strong ... but I've always had the best lemons in the street. You'll learn far more about gardening by spending time in your own garden. Test things out, what works for some plants works for others, but not all. Read labels on plants and general care instructions, then use your knowledge and that from friends ... in no time you'll have a lush garden. Remember, composting is essential. Keep all your kitchen scraps and compost them into holes in your garden ... the worms will come and revitalize your soils. Keep all your lawn clippings and put them around new plants, then later dig it all in to promote composting. Use autumn leaves and any other plant material you can find. Shredded paper is good too. If at first you don't succeed, don't give up, because it really is a very healthy hobby and so very good to see mother nature at work in your very own garden. Water your garden well twice a week. A really good soaking is better than daily waterings, which only promote surface roots, which wither on really hot days. Save your hair from hair cuts and put it around plants that snails like ... they will not be able to get to your plants with getting 'furballs', lol ... Good luck!
2. To amend the soil you use peat moss, the only thing you may have done is used more manure than needed and at the wrong time. You use it in preparation of a garden in the future it's best to put it in a space and let it lay unplanted for a few weeks or months. If your plants turn yellow and die they may have been burnt by the manure. One last tip if your plants from the nursery are coiled around the pot when you take them out to plant them cut off the roots that are coiled it will not hurt them and will help them to grow better, give them a good soaking of water 30 min or so before you plant them that way your plants will not have as bad of shock and the root system will stay in tack when you take it out of the pot.
3. The manuer is a good thing and contains alot of nitrogen..For flowering plants or vegetables that fruit out and not just leafy(such as lettuce,spinach etcetera..) you do not want alot of nittrogen but more phospherous and pottasium..the manuer is tilled in and all so it is not so much that it will burn the plants, but the first year your flowers may not be real thick on them but will have tons of nice leaves/foilage..nitrogen promotes the growth of leaves and such and does not benefit the buds and flowers..phospherous and potassium work on flowering/budding plants..You have doen no harm and you will get some flowers and blooms, but not as much as expected..DO NOT ADD ANY MORE NITROGEN BASED PRODUCTS..The slow release nitrogen in the potting soil will not do much harm...Just remember next season do not add any more manuer or nitrogen fertilizer for these type of plants..simply retill the existing soil to aerate and plant..This years planting is not a loss at all so dont worry..you will just get less blooms due to the increase in nitrogen..I also am in zone 8b northweest Florida..Yes Florida gets cold in parts..we were down to 24 farenheit last night..here is a link to my garden veggies pictures, which I also amend with fertilizer..it's just getting to know what and when to add with what type plants...These pictures are my source and experience..I was raised on a farm and presently start plants indoors and grow outside for resell..I sell veggies,plants,and seeds...The pictures on the album below is my proof..