Beat the spring rush with fall soil preparation

10/22/2001
Beat the spring rush with fall soil preparation

How many times have you been frustrated by heavy, wet, unworkable soil when planting fever hits you in spring? Act now to prevent all those mail-ordered plants from languishing in your garage next spring while you wait for the garden to dry out.

Fall is the ideal time to prepare new beds. The soil is generally much drier and easier to work now than in early spring. Plus, all the amendments you add to the soil now will have time to break down over the winter time, making the bed prime for planting first thing next spring.

If your designated area has grass or weeds growing in it, you need to obliterate those first. Either physically remove them, zap them with a glyphosate herbicide, or cover the area with black plastic or several layers of cardboard weighted or pinned down and left in place for at least a couple of weeks.

Then till the area with a rototiller, or turn it with a fork. I prefer a good garden fork to a spade for turning any but the sandiest soils. The work is easier and the result is less clumpy. Next, spread 2 to 4 inches of compost, rotted manure, or leaf mold over the entire area. If the soil is heavy clay, spread 1-2 inches of sharp (builder's) sand over it as well. This is also a good time to add bone meal or another slow-release, organic phosphorus source. Phosphorus will help your new plants get off to a quick start by stimulating strong root growth. Till or use a fork to work all these amendments into the ground.

If you have used hand tools to cultivate the area, don't bother hoeing. The action of winter weather will do most of the work of breaking down the lumps for you. Just cover the whole area with several inches of easily removable mulch, such as fresh straw. This mulch layer will keep the soil surface open and easy to work first thing next spring, when you and your plants are raring to go. Just pull off the mulch and plant!

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