5 Tips on How to Till Your Garden Properly
The productivity of any garden depends on how well you prepare your soil for planting. Tilling the soil is the most vital process in preparation for your garden planting. Many new gardeners are usually confused whether or not to till. And If they do choose to till the soil, they do not know the proper way to go about it. Tilling is necessary if you are dealing with compacted soil or virgin ground. You can also till to amend your existing garden in the fall months. So, are you ready to read 5 Tips on How to Till Your Garden Properly? Let’s go.
In this informative resource, you will learn a few tips and tricks that I have learned from friends and family over the years. You can use these tips to achieve the best overall tillage for your garden soil. A great tillage will definitely result in better and healthier plant. You can trust the information you find here as it is tried and true. These are thoughts and practices of seasoned gardeners. A freshly tilled ground offers loose soil for young plants to get firmly established roots. It does not matter whether you plan to cultivate vegetable or flowers or other stuff. Follow these simple tips. I guarantee you will not be sorry you did!
Tip 1: Perform a Soil Test
The first thing you will want to do is conduct a soil test. The common amendments include mulch, lime, organic fertilizer and peat moss. These amendments are inexpensive. And they will correct any nutrient imbalance revealed from the soil test. Spread the necessary amendments on top of the ground to be tilled before you can work on it. This way, the amendments will mix well with the soil to fully enrich it. Resist any temptation to apply commercial fertilizer. Always try to use natural or organic products. This is especially true if you are tilling your garden for the very first time.
Tip 2: Prepare the Garden for Tilling
This tip applies to virgin grounds. Once you determine exactly where you want your garden to be located, go ahead and start to prepare it for tilling. Tilling unprepared land can be quite difficult. Besides, any residual obstacles on or in the ground can cause damage to your tiller or cultivator. You have to be sure to remove any shrubs and all large weeds. Remove all of the sod (turf of grass and part of soil beneath it held together by grassroots) before tilling.
A good way to manage the sod is to incorporate it into the soil in the fall months. It will directly provide nitrogen to the soil. Do not make an attempt to work the sod into the soil during the spring months. The reason why is because the grass in the sod might resurface as soil temperature rises and you definitely don’t want to have to worry about that.
Tip 3: Choose the Right Time
Early spring is the very best time to till a virgin ground. It is the best time because the soil is softer and hopefully somewhat dry depending on where you live. It is also generally going to be easier to work the soil at this time. You should wait until the soil is ready, but how do you know exactly when the soil is ready for tilling? Well, you can use a very simple test that has been used since the beginning of gardening. Take a small sample of the soil in your hands and squeeze. If the soil crumbles, it is ready for tilling. If it forms a paste, wait a little longer.
It is important to get the tilling time exactly right. If you till your garden when it is too moist, it will form a clump. As soil temperature rises, the clumps with dry into an unmanageable chunk. What’s more, soil that is too dry is difficult to work on and will not break up easily. The simple test described will let you know the overall soil consistency and if it is ready for tilling or not.
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Tip 4: Use the Right Tool To Till
There are many tools that can help you with your tilling. However, many experienced gardeners choose to work with a machine tiller. The machine works by turning the soil and mixing amendments fast to establish a well mixed and fertile soil. Tillers can range anywhere from small mini-tillers to huge machines with power to tines and wheels like a riding lawn mower. The choice of the tool to use depends on the size of your garden and how much money you are willing to spend.