Garden Week Six 5/1/2018

Prepping the dirt for gardening!

Earlier this month we looked at testing our soil. Now, it is time clean the garden areas of weeds, to make amendments, based on the results of our soil tests, and prepare the dirt for planting.

Before clearing the weeds, I like to know what my soil structure looks like. Because plant roots require oxygen, water, nutrients and vertical area to grow, it is a good idea to check the soil for hardpan.

Hardpan is a compact layer of soil which prevents roots from penetrating into the deep soil, moisture and nutrients. When the plants roots cannot reach down to gather nutrients and water, the roots will grow horizontally, limitng the stability and resources of the roots. Signs of hardpan in your soil will include; rapid wilting, discoloration or yellowing, waterlogging, and ill formed roots. Knowing if you have hardpan...