| Your Guide to Soil Preparation | | | | soil type, the addition of organic material |
| | | | will greatly improve your garden's |
| What follows are general rules or guidelines | | | | performance. |
| for preparing any garden for planting. | | | | |
| | | | Organic material can be peat moss, shredded |
| Preparing a garden bed before you plant will | | | | bark, composted or decomposed plant material, |
| greatly improve your gardens performance, and | | | | some form of manure (generally cow manure), |
| promote healthy vigorous growth from any | | | | or even worm casings or rice hulls to name a |
| plant you choose. | | | | few. |
| | | | |
| Most often preparing for planting is done in | | | | Potting soil is usually some combination of |
| the spring, and involves tilling or turning | | | | the above list and may have little or no |
| the ground, and at the same time adding | | | | actual "dirt" in it. Organic material helps |
| generous amounts of organic material and some | | | | to maintain moisture content levels, |
| type of fertilizer. | | | | increases biological activity, and helps to |
| | | | prevent soil compaction. |
| The goal is to break up and loosen earth that | | | | |
| has become compacted over time, and to | | | | Gardening Tip: When adding organic matter to |
| replenish vital minerals and nutrients. | | | | planting beds or gardens, add at least 2 |
| | | | inches on top of the bed and work in evenly |
| Conditioning, or reconditioning the soil as | | | | to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. |
| it is sometimes called, is best done after | | | | |
| the winter rains or frost have passed, but | | | | If adding 2 or more inches of organic |
| before the summer growing season has started. | | | | material would raise your beds higher than |
| | | | you'd prefer, you'll need to remove some of |
| However, soil prep can be performed at any | | | | the existing soil first. Don't worry, your |
| time that the ground is not too wet or frozen | | | | garden will love you for it. |
| to till. | | | | |
| | | | Gardening Tip: When preparing for planting |
| Clay Soil | | | | always till (loosen) the earth before you add |
| | | | organic matter or fertilizer. Till no less |
| A clay or heavy clay soil, will greatly | | | | than 4 inches and no more than 12 inches |
| benefit from the addition of organic | | | | deep. |
| material, and it's almost impossible to add | | | | |
| too much. | | | | 3 Steps to a Healthier Garden |
| | | | |
| Clay, because of its particles size and | | | | 1. Break up and loosen the soil (using a |
| shape, tends to become compacted, and so will | | | | shovel or spading fork), to a depth of |
| drain slowly or not at all. Also, the heavy | | | | between 6 to 12 inches deep. |
| compact nature of clay tends to prevent air | | | | |
| from reaching the roots, which will slow | | | | 2. Level the bed a little, and add 2 or more |
| plant growth. | | | | inches of organic material, then work in |
| | | | evenly (mix) to a depth of about 4 to 6 |
| Gardening Tip: As water passes down through | | | | inches. |
| the earth it draws air (oxygen) behind it. | | | | |
| Soils with little or no air tend to become | | | | 3. Again, level the bed a little, then |
| "sour" as oxygen is a necessary ingredient | | | | sprinkle or add a granulated-slow release |
| for biological activity. | | | | fertilizer of your choice on top and "scratch |
| | | | in" or lightly till to about 1 to 2 inches |
| One of the benefits of clay in the garden is | | | | deep. |
| it's natural moisture retention properties. | | | | |
| By combining a generous amount of organic | | | | This method tends to simplify the process of |
| material with clay, you can off set it's | | | | preparing a planting bed, and allows you to |
| tendency towards compaction, improve | | | | save time and energy for other gardening |
| drainage, and allow the nature of clay to | | | | activities. |
| help maintain moisture in your garden. | | | | |
| | | | Gardening Tip: All depths listed above are |
| A good ratio of clay soil to organic material | | | | Rule of Thumb measurements. In general all |
| is roughly 50/50. | | | | plants respond well to the above system. |
| | | | |
| Sandy Soil | | | | If most of the plants you'll be growing tend |
| | | | to be shorter (1 to 2 feet high), you won't |
| Sandy soils are the opposite of clay and | | | | have to till as deep (about 6 to 8 inches). |
| generally drain too fast, and so are unable | | | | |
| to hold onto any nutrients long enough for a | | | | Taller plants will have deeper root systems, |
| plant to use them. Organic matter helps to | | | | so tilling deeper in that case will be |
| hold onto water and nutrients, and as with | | | | helpful. In general though, tilling deeper |
| clay, it's almost impossible to add too much. | | | | than 12 inches is an unnecessary use of time |
| | | | and energy. |
| A higher ratio of organic material to sand is | | | | |
| a good option, as the organic matter tends to | | | | Gardening Tip: Adding organic material around |
| break down faster due to faster drainage | | | | existing or established plants is not |
| (more oxygen). | | | | difficult. Till in to about 2 inches deep if |
| | | | close to a plant, and a little deeper if |
| Clay and sand are at the opposite end of the | | | | further away. |
| soil type spectrum. Most gardens will be | | | | |
| somewhere in the middle. The organic material | | | | Simply try not to disturb the roots too much, |
| available to you may depend on what region of | | | | and always water when you're done to settle |
| the world you live in. However, regardless of | | | | any roots that may have been disturbed. |