Steps may differ depending on the type of garden bed you’re creating; nonetheless, all garden beds must be prepared well in advance of planting.
Start building your vegetable garden bed right by lining it with newspaper to kill existing vegetation and improve soil. Over time, the newspaper will decompose and improve it further.
Remove Vegetation
As part of creating a new garden bed, it is necessary to remove any existing vegetation and weeds growing therein, either manually or using tools such as forks, spades or tillers. If there is heavy infestation of weeds a non-selective herbicide may be required. Once complete the soil should be raked and an organic material barrier applied as soon as possible to stop further germinating until you begin planting vegetables.
For optimal results and environmental safety, using natural, non-synthetic herbicides is best. Once all existing vegetation has been cleared away from beds, their shapes can be defined using string, hose or rope depending on size and shape. Once defined, cardboard or 8 to 10 sheets of newspaper (black ink only please) layered generously will help smother any emerging weeds while providing water and nutrients back into soil; once covered this layer should then be covered by mulch such as compost, leaves or bark to complete this step.
Organic matter is essential for creating healthy soil that’s easy to work with. Organic material provides slow release of nutrients while lightening heavy clay soils while holding in moisture. Many home and garden centers sell various organic amendments; alternatively you can create your own compost by gathering vegetable/fruit scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells and other organic waste into a bin and adding them.
If your garden is already established, adding compost or organic planting mix in fall or spring can help strengthen it and add vitality. When done in autumn, rainwater and snow can slowly disperse it throughout the soil over winter; this process is known as sheet composting.
By doing this in the spring, your soil will receive nourishment throughout its growth season and help keep weeds at bay. At this stage you can add balanced organic fertilizers if your soil test suggests this may be necessary.
Turn the Soil
No matter which approach you take when preparing garden beds for planting vegetables, tilling or no-tilling is a critical part of preparing garden beds for growing vegetables. Tilling loosens up the upper layer of soil to allow air circulation more freely while improving texture of your garden soil and improving texture overall. Now is also an ideal opportunity to incorporate organic matter and fertilizers.
Work the top 6 to 12 inches of soil using a broadfork or digging fork to break up and incorporate existing organic matter, making the soil more nutrient-rich and easier to work. If using a tiller, turn bed to 6-8 inches depth.
When working an established bed that sat over winter, its soil may have compacted into a crust-like structure on top. To break this up using either a garden fork or lightweight tiller (depending on its size).
As it’s best to work the soil while it’s still damp, working dry soil can be very challenging even with a tiller. To test whether or not the soil is suitable for working, grab a handful from one of your holes and squeeze it between your fingers; if it forms into a ball that crumbles when pressed with your thumb then it’s ready to work; otherwise wait several days and give it another go.
Once the top six to 12 inches of soil have been loosening, rake it and break apart any large clods to improve aeration and drainage, as well as prevent winter rainwaterlogging. This will increase airflow for better aeration and drainage as well as avoid potential waterlogging during heavy downpours.
Add an inch of well-rotted manure, if available, to provide additional nutrients to the soil and act as natural fertilizer. However, its nitrogen content varies so make sure to follow any product instructions regarding how much manure you should add for maximum benefit in your garden.
An effective way of controlling weeds in garden beds and improving their aesthetic appeal is with a layer of compost or mulch on their surfaces. Not only will this prevent them from appearing, but it will also retain moisture, and keep plants healthier overall.
Add Organic Matter
Organic matter is the cornerstone of healthy garden soil. It binds together soil particles into porous crumbs or granules that allow air to move through, while at the same time holding onto moisture so roots can access water and nutrients more easily. Plus, it provides food sources for soil microorganisms! No matter whether your soil is heavy clay, sandy, loamy or any combination thereof – adding organic matter will only enrich it further!
When starting from scratch with a garden bed, loosen the soil to at least 6-inches (more is preferred) using either a garden hose, broadfork or digging fork. After loosening, mix organic matter back in with this newly loosened soil through double digging (this process improves drainage, provides extra oxygen to plant roots and holds more moisture).
Add two inches of finished compost or aged manure to the topsoil in your planting beds, using more in those where you plan to grow tomatoes or other plants that require rich, well-draining soil. Combine this material into the soil before planting to help promote healthier results.
If you have an existing bed that contains perennials, shrubs or annuals growing within it, take care not to disturb their roots when turning the soil. Instead, add a layer of organic matter – lasagna gardening involves layering 2-inch thickness of green organic material such as grass clippings, fresh vegetable scraps, animal manure and food waste with 2-inch layers of brown materials such as dry leaves, shredded newspaper, wood chips and straw which provide nitrogen. This process allows earthworms and microorganisms to do the heavy lifting work of amending soil while simultaneously protecting planting bed surface and protecting from erosion.
Prepare an established bed by covering it in black plastic or cardboard in fall or spring and allowing it to decompose over winter, blocking sunlight and speeding soil warming, making spring work easier than before. Not only will this add organic matter, it can also suffocate weeds while creating an environment suitable for beneficial insects that help control pests.
Add Fertilizer
Reviving soil with organic matter and fertilizers will energize it to be ready for planting, providing vital nutrients that support healthy plants and increase performance and production.
Before adding any amendments, it is a wise idea to conduct a soil test. This will reveal what already exists in the soil as well as deficiencies. You can either purchase a kit to analyze nutrients in the soil, or take a sample and send it away for testing.
The results of your soil test can help guide you in choosing what amendments or fertilizers to include when preparing beds for planting. In addition, it will give an indication of how much work will need to be done to break up hard packed and dense clay-type soil and make beds easy to work on.
Once your beds are planted, it is crucial that they remain free from weeds while seeds germinate and start sprouting. Once this process begins, however, regular care and attention must be provided in order to maintain a successful crop.
Prep established beds for planting by spreading a layer of aged compost or commercial organic plant mix across them before lightly turning it in, known as sheet composting. This technique may be done either at the end of last season’s growing season or early springtime.
If you plan on planting a garden on your property, carefully consider where the beds should be situated relative to other structures such as your house, fences, driveways and sidewalks. Also take into account environmental conditions like rainfall/sun exposure as well as flooding/pooling potential in this location.
Make sure the beds are at least four feet wide to make accessing the center easier from either side, without stepping on any cultivated soil. For taller plants such as flowers, make the bed even wider to ensure their tops do not come into conflict with each other.