Good preparing your garden for spring planting before the start of the new gardening season is very important. We can start work when the floor is dry enough.

How to Properly Preparing Your Garden for Spring Planting

There is no universal advice on how to prepare the garden most correctly. Everyone prepares it in a way they know is best for their work.

The only advice is not to cultivate and prepare the soil when it is too wet and sticks to the tools or too dry. This is most easily seen if a cloud of dust is created in the fields behind the tractors.

The Ground on the Beds Should Never Be Bare

The preparation of the garden is different for each plant that we want to have planted.

“Certainly, preparing the land at least 14 days before the intended sowing is good, as this also destroys some germinating weeds during sowing or transplanting. This is professionally called blind sowing.

The soil on the beds should never be ‘bare.’ Therefore, if nothing grows on the flower beds, we always cover them with grass clippings when mowing the grass.

This grass should be laid in a thin layer to cover the soil. Because fresh grass breaks down quickly, we must add a new layer with each subsequent mowing.

I warn you that thick mulch is not good, as the grass will rot. Rotting will prevent air from entering the soil.

So, if we add too thick a layer of grass, we achieve the exact opposite effect. Instead of protecting the earth, we create problems for ourselves.

Correct Use of Fertilizers

“Which fertilizer should I use?” is a question that has probably occurred to everyone. It’s not about which fertilizer is best. It’s about using it correctly.

“I think organic fertilizers are the right choice, among which I put home compost first. But compost, too, must be done correctly .”

Manure is the most commonly used fertilizer. However, if we want the soil and the vegetables to be good, they should not be used in autumn.

The Position of the Sun Is Essential

The first important thing to consider when planning a garden is the location.

“For the garden, we definitely choose the sunniest location on our plot. Many vegetables come from tropical places and need a lot of sun rays.

The sun is also what helps plants create vitamins and minerals. We can also make shade for them in the summer, but only for those who need it.”

Intruders and Water Supply

Taller trees and hedges should not be planted near the garden. Snails are hiding there, which are happy to wander into the garden.

But we must not forget the ‘wild guests’ who sneak out of the forest. In this case, the garden must be slightly distant from the forest.

But let me not forget to mention the water. For more accessible work, having it near the garden is highly recommended. Water is considered a great asset, so watering is sometimes prohibited.

However, there are economical methods of irrigation that also help the plants a lot.

What Is the Appropriate Size?

In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, the garden size is significant. For some, a vegetable garden means great relaxation after work in the office, but for others, a great burden.

We work with the garden from March until November.

For one family member, we need about ten square meters for a constant supply of vegetables. Approximately 20 square meters for year-round supply and around 80 square meters if we want to cook something, pickle or prepare winter food.

Don’t plan too big a garden if you don’t have time. The garden should not be a burden but a joy and pleasure for relaxation. It should be a place where the family studies, works, and socializes together if possible.

Don’t Forget the Compost Pile!

However, since we also produce some waste in the garden, it makes sense to plan the space for the compost heap. It should not be too close but not too far, and more importantly, it should be in the shade.

I recommend dividing the area for growing vegetables into permanent beds and intermediate paths. With this, we achieve that the soil where the plants grow is walked on as little as possible.

Therefore, the beds’ width should be no more than 120 centimeters. Some even say 70 centimeters so that you can “jump over” it more easily.

The width of the paths should be such that you can walk normally or even drive a wheelchair in between.

Correct Rotation of Crops

Another essential thing in gardening is proper rotation. Thus, it is necessary to ensure that a plant from the same botanical family comes to the same place as later as possible.

On average, this gap is about three years. Two years is enough for lettuce and cruciferous vegetables; we only have to be careful with spinach and cruciferous vegetables, where this period is extended to five years.

Improper rotation thus leads to many problems, both with the crop and with diseases and pests.

A Tool for Work and Digging

Any tool that helps us prepare the soil properly is suitable.

The tool should be of good quality and sharpened. I am most enthusiastic about using garden pitchforks, but a manual garden cultivator should always be at hand. This is a tool where several longer teeth are placed at the end of a long handle.

Garden pitchforks are also considered a good tool for digging the garden. Compacted and heavy soil is recommended to be worked already in autumn, and at the same time, manure is also adequately incorporated into the soil by digging.

And What to Plant First?

Each gardener plants what he or his family likes best in his garden.

We definitely sow peas and broad beans first. Plant spring garlic and onions as soon as possible. We can already plant lettuce, monthly radish, and arugula in the greenhouses.

The Biggest Mistakes of Home Gardeners

Gardeners should not rush sowing in cold or even frozen soil.

We are not in a hurry to sow seedlings. Some tables tell us how long it takes to get good-quality seedlings.

Accordingly, we can start sowing in a warm room only when it is appropriate. For example, we are only sowing tomatoes now.