Getting Your Garden's Soil Ready.

The soil your plants grow in is very important.
The Robert Treat Farm has a wonderful Garden Center
Filled with everything you'll need to get your garden
ready for the season.
http://www.roberttreatfarm.com/GardenCenter.html

Experts say getting your garden soil ready should come in advance, its always before you actually start planting your garden. They say that you should begin preparing the soil anywhere from 2-4 months before planting. So you might end up preparing the soil before you even decide what type of garden you want to have!

Gardeners are frequently disappointed to discover that the soil is causing landscape plants to struggle for survival. The soil maybe full of debris, clay or stones, compacted, too shallow, or lacking in organic matter.

But, why is it so important having your garden soil ready? After all, plants have been growing for millions of years, right? Shouldn’t you be able to just stick a plant in the ground and watch it grow?

Different plants require different types of soil, and soil needs to have a lot of nutrients in it as well as a balanced PH level in order for plants to take root and thrive. Getting your garden soil ready for planting a flower garden can be a very serious business. Many astute gardeners attribute their green thumb to good soil. They know that garden success starts in the ground.

The Three Components in Getting You Garden Soil Ready

1. Area Clearing
2. Soil Aerating
3. Adding Soil Amendments or Plant Food

Clear the Area

Pick up any brush, twigs, branches, rocks, or other debris and get them all out of the way. You should be starting with a nice, level, flat, clean area that you want to have your garden in. If you have to mark off a garden space, use rocks, spacers, or other identifiable items to mark out the area that you are claiming as a garden.

Aerate the Soil

On getting your garden soil ready, it’s important to break up and aerate the soil that you will be planting in. Use a rototiller or a hand tiller or even a spade to break up the ground and turn over the soil. While you are breaking up the soil, be on the lookout for any rocks or branches that may be buried under the soil and clear those out too.

Add Soil Amendments or Plant Foods

With a little knowledge and determination, you can use soil amendments to improve poor soil and make your landscape flourish. Soil amendments are materials that are mixed into the topsoil to promote healthy plant growth. Most garden and landscape plants perform best in soils high in organic matter. Because organic matter is used up in oxidation, especially in warm climates, or where soils are frequently tilled, it should be added to the soil every year.
Plant Food’s primary function is to supply nutrients. You will need to add a few bags of potting soil that has been enriched with plant vitamins and nutrients or mulch or both to the existing soil. Mix the new into the old so that the nutrients in the mulch and vitamin enriched soil blend into the original soil, this is why getting your garden soil ready is always advisable.

Article Source: http://www.basicsofgardening.com/getting-your-garden-soil-ready.html



Here at the Robert Treat Farm Garden Center we offer topsoil, mulch and fertilizer that are perfect for getting your garden ready this year.  Ask one of our staff members for the best selections and advice.

To learn more about our garden center, visit http://www.roberttreatfarm.com/GardenCenter.html





The Robert Treat Farm.
Authentic Family Farm and Garden Center.
Located at 1339 New Haven Ave. in Milford CT.
http://www.roberttreatfarm.com