Soil Preparation for Gardening

by Edwin Cooper
For successful gardening, your garden soil needs preparation and care so it will continue to grow quality plants over the summer. Otherwise weeds will take over along with invasions of obnoxious critters.
The additioon of organic matter will help the soil hold moisture, retain its nutritional values and remain workable. AgriLife Extension publications on gardening recommend that a 4" or slightly shallower layer of organic matter is beneficial, especially if added several months before planting either in spring or fall gardens. Organic matter should be added ever year, which releases its important trace elements for successful gardening.
When ready to plant, the garden should be thoroughly tilled--up to 8 inches and soil turned under. Then the soil should be pulled up and made into beds 8 to 10" high and allowed to settle for awhile. Water between the beds as needed after planting.
Planting time is now upon us. A huge shipment of vegetable and ornamental plants have just arrived at M&M Farm Supply. Also a variety of soil conditioners are on hand. Several items include Landscapers Pride Landscape Mix, a blend of soil conditioner, sphagnum, perlite and micro-nutrients. Another two include Back to Nature Cotton Burr Compost and Fertilome Peat Moss. There are many more varieties of soil conditioners available.
In 1965 I planted a few tomatoes in a hastily constructed garden in our backyard in College Station. I used fresh sandy loam soil from nearby creek bank and a bit of commercial fertilizer. Those plants grew to the edge of our roof and heavy with tomatoes. Our neighbors tired of me bringing them buckets full.
The second year the plants barely grew to my chest and produced tomatoes both small and scarce. I learned commercial fertilizer needs a good partnership with organic soil conditioner.