How to Prepare a Vegetable Garden for Planting

Many homeowners plant vegetable gardens as a hobby or as a way to provide convenient access to healthy foods. There are many different types of vegetables you can grow in a home garden. The success of a vegetable garden depends upon proper preparation of the area in the spring.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Pull out weeds in the area of your vegetable garden. It is important to remove the roots of the weeds so that they don't grow back. Also remove any plant stalks left over from last year's crops and clean out any trash that has accumulated in the garden.

2. Till the soil to a depth of approximately 6 inches. You can rent a rear tine garden tiller from your local tool rental store and some home improvement stores. Tilling the soil prepares it to accept fertilizer.

3. Spread manure or a similar compost fertilizer 1 to 2 inches thick over the surface of the vegetable garden area. The manure adds nutrients to the soil that your vegetables need.

4. Mix the manure into the soil with the garden tiller. This will place the manure's nutrients in the vegetable plants' root zone below the surface of the soil.

5. Plant your vegetables after the threat of frost is gone. By taking the steps to prepare your garden in the spring, you will have a more bountiful harvest in the fall.