How to Prep Your Garden for Spring Planting

With warm weather finally creeping toward us, it’s time to start thinking about our vegetable gardens. Planting season is just around the corner, so you’ll want to be prepared. Gather your garden tools and let’s get out in the sunshine.

Check Your Compost

Did you start a compost pile last year? If so, your compost is probably ready and waiting to aid in growing your good food. Take a look and make sure the matter has broken down into rich, dark, crumbly material that resembles quality earth. You may want to give the compost a quick turn or two, just to loosen it up and get it ready for spreading.

Lay the Compost

The nutrients in your compost will help to prepare the soil for nurturing the vegetables you plant, but they need a few weeks to get the job done. Go on out and start spreading the compost at least two weeks before you intend to plant. A full inch of compost over the garden area is best, but at least a half-inch will do. Now, if you didn’t get to start a compost pile last year, that’s okay. You can buy bags at your local garden center.

Turn the Soil

Winter is hard on garden soil, isn’t it? Snow, ice, and pounding rain pack the earth into a tight floor that’s not very friendly to shovels and seeds. You’ll need to break up that dirt with a shovel or digging fork. Turn the soil as you loosen it so that it can dry and warm in the sun. This will allow the roots of your plants to grow.

As you turn, make sure you get that compost mixed in well, too. The nutrients in your compost will continue to aid in healthy growth for your vegetables.

Lay the Fertilizer

You’re almost ready to plant, but you need just a little more prep work. By laying fertilizer before you plant, you ensure the soil is ready for your crops. Study the amount of fertilizer you’ll need for the plants you intend to grow. Some will need just a fine layer, while others will require much more. Crops like corn will grow much better if you line the seed trenches with fertilizer before planting.

You’re now ready to plant your crops. Expect a beautiful bounty when harvest time arrives. If you’re still daydreaming about that garden, maybe it’s time to make it a reality. With owner-financed land available in Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina, you’re just one step away from owning your dream.