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Soil should compact into a ball that crumbles apart when released to allow air and moisture to reach budding seeds.less than 5 days growth image by tomcat2170 from Fotolia.com
Remove any plant debris from the previous garden season, if applicable. Mark the location of any perennial plants in the garden to avoid damaging roots when you're amending the soil later. - 2). Cut straight down into the soil, away from decaying plant matter including mulch and leaves if possible, to obtain a 3-inch sample of soil. Decaying plant matter may skew results since nitrogen is pulled from the soil to help in the breakdown of these materials. If your garden spans into different soil types -- for example, areas that get less sun or stay wet longer after rain than other parts -- you should collect multiple samples of soil and mix them together for a more accurate reading. Place in a clean, plastic container.
- 3). Take your soil samples to your cooperative extension office or full-service garden center for testing. The test may be mailed out or done at the site and should cost just a few dollars, if anything. Soil testing will help you better understand your soil's chemical makeup, drainage, pH levels and nutrient content.
- 4). Follow test recommendations to purchase any soil amendments. These may include compost, composted manure, peat moss, humus, coarse sand and sawdust to improve drainage; lime or aluminum sulfate to balance acidity (pH); and compost, composted manure, bone meal, fish emulsion, slow-release fertilizers and other organic matter to improve nutrient content, depending on your soil's needs. Fertilizers should be safe for consumption if growing vegetables and other edible plants.
- 5). Amend the soil by turning each amendment into the ground to a depth of 6 to 12 inches -- some plants need as much as 18 inches, so check the specifics on your selections for better results -- with a spade. Continue to turn each amendment until the soil is a fine, powdery, well-mixed consistency. Add one amendment at a time for best results.
- 6). Mark areas of the garden where plants were planted last season. Some vegetables such as potatoes and tomatoes are best rotated to different areas of the garden each season to avoid any possible contamination from previous seasons. Disease can linger in the soil and can be passed on to new plants. Most other vegetables are not susceptible to the same problems as tomatoes, so rotating areas of planting helps eliminate past issues.
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