How can I improve my garden soil?

Mel: you may want to start a compost pile!

Hi Mel. I use a mix of one-third soil, one-third manure, and one-third sand. I use the sand for water retention. I save coffee grounds during the winter and then I mix it in my soil when I'm ready to plant my garden. Tomatoes love it. I use a soaker hose in my garden. I water the soil, not the plants. And my garden has tripled in harvest since I started using my soaker hose. I also self-pollinate. Bees are in very short supply so I go out every couple days and gently flick the plants. Gently enough to make the pollen fall. Good luck Mel. Come back to us if you have any more garden questions.

Add some composted manure and some topsoil. A rototiller is a great way to get mix it well. Compost is a great additive. If you start composting now, you will have some to add to your garden in the fall.

The answer to any soil improvement is compost. You don’t say how large your garden is but a few bags from the garden store will go a long way. Most crops only need the top 6-8 inches of good soil. Break up the soil below that level to ensure good drainage. If don’t have compost you can start saving kitchen scraps (no meat or fat) and just start mixing it into the soil. Save all of your green clippings for a compost pile.

Hello. What are you growing? That might help us give you a more specific and appropriate answer.

In my raised bed garden particularly growing tomatoes I use an organic raised bed soil with the addition of lime and some vegetable tomato fertilizer. It works very nicely.

Additionally for the best local professional advice

I would highly suggest contacting your cooperative extension. These offices are manned by volunteer master gardeners on site there waiting to answer the communities questions that know your local situation quite well.

Master gardeners are required to volunteer back designated hours ( plus continuing education) each year to maintain MG certification -this community outreach and education is their goal.

If your office is closed....there Might be alternative online venues like Ask an Expert as well as emailing your local master gardeners extension office for their guidance in a non contact manner.

Compost, peat moss, topsoil. Equal amounts tilled into the soil

Hello Mel,

Dig in bags of compost to give the soil a boost and generally improve condition. Add Veg waste, Coffee grounds,Tea Grouts etc.

Hi Mel - Here's a great 101-style article on getting started with composting and everything you ever need to know. Also how we DIY'ed building our compost bin. My Stepson built it for a Boy Scout merit badge. Hope this all helps and happy composting! Hugs, Holly

https://pinkfortitude.com/composting/

https://pinkfortitude.com/compost-bin/

You can get it tested to see what it needs!

Once you decide what you want to plant then you can amend your soil based on the needs of the plants. You can compost or add gardening soil to it.