Introduction
If there is a secret to gardening it could be world-class, spectacular, super-fabulous soil preparation. If you have failed before, your soil preparation may be to blame. You don’t need a green thumb to have a garden; you need a brown one.
Soil is made of several components:
Nutrients
Sand, silt, and clay particles in varying proportions
Organic matter
Water
Air
Living organisms
Healthy soil has a balance of all of these.
Below is a collection of 10 tips that will help you get started in the Eastern Sierra.
10 Steps to Good Garden Soil
Here are some steps you can follow to get your new garden spot ready to grow vegetables.
1. Pick a Suitable Location
You will need:
Sunshine
Good drainage
Access to water
Low traffic
You may want to start small. Leave room between rows to walk.
2. Remove Weeds
Spray weeds with herbicide or manually pull them.
3. Add Organic Matter
Cover the area with a couple of inches of organic matter.
If your soil is heavy clay, you may want to add extra organic matter. You can never have too much organic matter.
Suitable Organic Matter Sources
Well-composted manure
Composted yard debris
Ready-to-use compost
Coconut coir
Peat moss
Pre-made potting mixes
Worm castings
Do not use raw manure or plant residue such as straw or sawdust as these can tie up nitrogen.
4. Incorporate Thoroughly
Incorporate organic matter into the soil with a spade or tiller:
At least 12 inches deep
18 inches wide if planting in rows
New beds should be at least a couple of inches higher than the old soil grade.
5. Do Not Walk on Prepared Beds
Never walk on your prepared beds. They are called “beds” for a reason. Use a planting board if necessary.
6. Control Weeds
Weeds compete with your plants for nutrients.
Control methods:
Pull
Hoe
Spray
Consider using a “Hula Hoe.”
Be careful when spraying and watch for drift. Most herbicides will kill vegetables. Read the label.
7. Plan for Irrigation
Make sure you can get water to your garden.
If watering by hand:
Use a water-breaker
Try to keep leaves dry
Water early in the day
Put deep, heavy stakes at the end of each row so the hose will not wipe out your crop.
If you must water twice a day, consider using mulch.
8. Fertilizer
You do not need to use a whole bag of fertilizer.
When in doubt:
Apply 1 lb of 13-13-13 or 9-9-9 per 100 sq. ft.
Apply immediately before planting
There is probably a fertilizer you could be using that better aligns with your actual plant needs. You would likely need a soil test to determine that. Lacking a soil test, this is a general recommendation that will get you started in our area.
9. Consider Raised Beds
If your soil is extremely poor, you may be better off growing in raised beds amended with organic material.
10. Repeat Annually
Next year, do it all again! (Kind of.)
It will be easier next time. Your garden will grow better each year, and the number of weeds will steadily decline if you stay on top of them. You likely won't need so much organic material, and usually less or more gentle tillage is better than more if you have that option.