When moving into a new home should we do anything to the soil
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Have the soil tested. That is the best way to know what you have to work with.
you need to amend soil with garden soil and peat moss
If you have plants and shrubs growing already, your soil should be ok. Do you wantto take out what you have ? I learned from my mistakes on my first yard, don't waste money on "it's so pretty " a lot of loss with inappropriate plantings. I recommend you look at established yards in your area and take pictures of the ones you like. If you see people gardening, stop and ask about their plantings. The best ones to ask are us crazy ones who are in the yard in the middle of summer when everyone else has gone inside to the a/c, lol. You may like a certain tree and yet seeing it in a hard at maturity will change your mind. You can do container gardening using pots that you can move around which will help give you an idea how things will look. You can also leave things in lplanters, I even have trees in large pots. Saves digging, easier to pull out it necessary and change seasonally. Look here and on Pinterest for planter ideas. I love Japanese maples they are a smaller tree, quite hardy, beautiful colors. Look on Amazon for them, colors can coordinate your house colors. Learn basics, annuals are only for that seson, don't come back, perennials do. pots allow for year round seasonal plantings. A lot of us crazy gardeners will share cuttings, extra plants etc. Once bitten with the bug, you will love it. Good luck.
No need to replace the soil unless you are finding sand or clay, neither of which is ideal. I'd suggest, in this case, that you use compost and appropriat soil additives in the areas of your new plantings, and the use of manures and compost and fertilizers wherever you can. Try introducing earth worms as they are very beneficial.
Only Add topsoil if adding new plants or shrubs
have your soil tested and add the needed nutrients and compost'compost. compost.
No, Just add to it.......
There should be an agricultural extension service in your area. They will lend you and auger to obtain a soil sample, or samples from a few locations in your yard. (the auger is small and very easy to use)
Take the sample back to them, and they will test your soil for you. They will then include a report of your soil pH and contents, and advise what to add or other changes needed to have a successful landscape/garden/lawn or whatever.
There never used to be a charge, but not sure anymore about that. They are part of the US Government and paid for by our taxes. I hope this helps.