Site selection plays an important role when choosing an area to break ground for a new garden. Healthy garden beds require the right amount of sunlight, good soil and proper moisture properties for the type of plants you are growing. Areas that receive six or more hours of direct sunlight work well for most vegetables and many ornamental plants, but there are also plenty of plant options for shadier areas. Prepare your garden bed the fall before you plant, when possible, so that you can amend the soil and create the best conditions for growing.
Mark the outline of the garden bed with a hose or twine. Adjust the outline until the bed is the shape and size you desire.
Remove the grass or existing plants from the site. Dig a 6- to 8-inch trench around the perimeter of the marked bed and slide a shovel blade beneath the sod roots. Lift the sod out in pieces and compost it or plant it elsewhere. Remove any large rocks, branches or dead roots from the ground.
Take a soil sample and test it with a home kit, or take the soil sample to a testing facility. Home kit instructions vary, but generally you dissolve the sample in water and either insert a testing strip or place the sample in a vial that contains a testing medium. The strip or the water in the vial changes color to indicate the pH, or acidity, of the soil or to determine the nutrient contents of the sample.
Cover the soil with a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost. Rich soil that drains well usually requires only 2 inches of compost, while heavy clay or very sandy sites benefit from 4 or more inches of compost. The organic matter provides nutrients, increases moisture retention and drainage, and improves the soil texture.
Spread crushed limestone or sulfur over the garden bed, depending on the soil pH results from your soil test. Use sulfur to lower the pH or lime to increase the pH. Soil pH needs vary depending on the type of plants you are growing, so the soil test provides a guide for how much you'll need to amend the soil for the plants' pH needs.
Turn the compost and amendments into the top 10 inches of soil, using a shovel or power tiller. Dig down with a shovel to the depth of the shovel blade, and turn the shovelful of soil upside down. Repeat over the entire bed, then dig a second time to break up any remaining lumps and to fully incorporate the amendments.
Sprinkle 2 1/2 pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer over every 100 square feet of bed, or follow the fertilizer recommendations determined by the soil test. Turn the fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil with the shovel before planting.
Things You Will Need
- Hose or twine
- Soil test kit
- Sulfur or lime (optional)
- Power tiller (optional)
- 5-10-10 fertilizer
- If you prepare and amend the bed in fall, cover it with straw or a plastic mulch to prevent weeds from invading the bed during winter. Remove the mulch, or plant through it in the spring.
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