You’re probably ready to start planting seeds and starter plants. I get it; it’s exciting. It’s thrilling to think about growing your own tomatoes and green beans. Don’t let excitement overpower your sense of common sense. You must prepare your garden soil before you start thinking about planting.
Why not prepare your garden soil before planting?
Healthy, nutritious soil is the best way to get the most out of your garden. It is important to ensure that your soil retains water well, doesn’t become compacted and has the right pH and minerals for plant growth. Failing to do this can lead to a poor garden or even a failed one.
Weed
Before you start anything, make sure you get rid of any weeds in your garden. These weeds can be a threat to your garden’s limited resources so remove them as soon as possible.
You might encounter a lot of weeds in a new garden. It is easiest to get rid of them by turning the soil with a shovel. This will help to remove weeds and add nutrients to your soil if done early enough.
The Soil should be tested and treated
To prepare your soil, it is necessary to know what it needs. You will need to test your soil. There are a few options for soil testing. A soil testing kit can be purchased at your local hardware store. Both will give you levels of potassium, pH, phosphorous, and nitrogen.
No matter which option you choose to modify your soil, make sure that you follow the directions in the test results. If you find out that your soil is deficient in nitrogen, you can add a fertilizer rich in that chemical or composted manure.
When amending and testing your soil, you should also consider drainage and water retention. A good mixture of clay, loam, and sand is ideal. The amount of each of these elements will have a negative impact on how the garden retains water. Too much sand can cause water to drain too fast, and too little clay won’t allow for adequate drainage.
Mix the soil by turning it.
After your garden has been cleared of all weeds, you can start to turn the soil. This is possible if you have a rototiller. However, it’s not difficult to turn a small garden by hand. You will need to cut up the soil and mix it thoroughly. This will loosen the soil, and allow you to mix in any nutrients that were added in the previous step.
After the soil is well mixed, level it and call it done. Now it’s time to plant!
Contact your landscapers in Ferndale.
