Each spring it seems as though the ground in our garden area is full of weeds and the soil is too hard for planting. Prior to planting any vegetables in the garden area, most people till the soil using a garden tiller such as a Mantis Tiller/Cultivator for small gardens, or a larger garden tiller or even a tractor with a plow for much larger spaces. If your garden is small, owning one of these products is not as cost effective as using a shovel. The following will provide a how to on breaking up the soil and preparing the soil to grow great vegetables.

Step 1: Begin by removing all weeds from the garden area. You will want to make sure to remove the roots to keep the weeds from returning later in the summer.

Step 2: After the weeds are removed, take your shovel and begin turning over the soil. This will help to loosen the hard soil, aiding in root development.

Step 3: After you loosen the large majority of soil by turning it over (at least 6 to 8 inches down), add a substantial amount of Sphagnum Peat Moss.

NOTE: Adding Sphagnum Peat Moss will aid in water retention and aeration of the soil keeping the soil softer allowing the roots of the plants to develop well.

Step 4: After adding the peat moss, work it into the soil using a metal rake or hoe to break up any large clumps of dirt.

NOTE: You can break up the large dirt clumps using your hands to ensure the peat moss is incorporated into the soil thoroughly.

Step 5: Once the soil is broken up and the peat moss is incorporated throughout the area, level off the garden using the back side of the metal rake.

Now your garden is ready for planting!

NOTE: If you use the same area year after year, you may want to incorporate a bag of topsoil along with the peat moss to improve the nutrient content of your soil. You can also treat the ground with fertilize products specially made for vegetables such as Mircle-Gro brand plant food.

We hope you found this article helpful. Do you have any great tips on how you prepare your soil each year? We would love to hear from you.