how to prepare the soil for home gardening?
Answers:
"You didn't say where you live but this is my formula and I have good topsoil for about 5-6"" but then a lot of clay.
For every 6' x 6'sq. area:
1 bag peat moss (If you get the very large 3.cu.ft bags-only 1/2)
1 bag sand-play sand
1 bag gypsum (this helps to aerate the soil-you'll want to add some each year-but only 1/4th the amount, it will work it's way into the soil.
1/3 bad Millorganite (an organic fertilizer found at
Nurseries--and I SWEAR by it for flower beds and lawns, for lawns, put it on heavy like any fertilizer
in spring and fall!)
1 bag cedar or dypress mulch-this gets tilled into the
soil with all the other stuff.
3-4 bags Manure. I buy mine in bulk-I like horse or chicken the best. Elephant manure is said to be the VERY best-but I don't like big pets!
Roto-til or turn into soil with shovel-at least 8"-10" in depth-more if possible, before planting. You will be AMAZED!!
Then and only then are you ready to plant.
Sijka"
http://experts.about.com/q/Perennials-729/Preparing-Perennial-Bed.htm
Other answers:
Till the soil, add some potting soil and fertilizer.
Till the soil, add some potting soil and fertilizer.
Turn the soil over toget the air in it and then add mulch and worms.
Mulch items:
green vegetation: clippings, grass, leaves
brown material: coffee grounds, manure, fine ground branches, brown leaves
other good stuff: egg shells (crushed), vegetable peelings, chicken droppings fertilizer (Chick-A-Poo?).
Cover with layer of dirt.
That's what I do. I have a compost pile going somewhere (usually where the next garden is going to be) and keep adding material to it.
Let that sit for a as long as possible.
first get a soil testing kit so you can see what your soil's pH is and see what nutrients you have alot of and what nutrients you need to add. then it's just a matter of adjusting your soil to suit the items you want to plant.
Depends on what you would like to plant. Different plants have different soil requirements as well as different water and sunlight requirements.
After your soil is tilled you SHOULD test the ph. You can by the test kits at WalMart for about $7.00. Once you find out your ph you can ask the garden center how to amend the soil for whatever you would like to plant.