How to Restore an Old Vegetable Garden

When you are ready to get back into vegetable gardening after taking some time off, the task may seem daunting. There is some work involved, but restoring an old vegetable garden is worth it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Old vegetable garden
• Garden rake
• Garden gloves
• Shovel or spade
• Tree pruner
• Cultivator
• Hand Cultivator
• Vegetable starter plants or seeds

Prep The Old Vegetable Garden

1. 

   Gather all of the tools needed for the gardening project.

2. 

   Pull all grass and weeds that have grown up, get as many by the root as possible.

3. 

   Turn the dirt in the vegetable garden. If it is a small garden, this can be done with a shovel or garden spade. Put the shovel in all the way then rock it back and forth to break the soil.If you are restoring a large vegetable garden, renting a roto-tiller may be easier.

4. 

   Turn around and break the ground from the other direction. If you started north to south, now go east to west. This will make sure the ground is completely loosened.

5. 

   Use a garden rake to further break the dirt and pull up any weed roots. Continue raking until the dirt is completely broken and free of roots.

6. 

   Add any soil additives the garden will need at this point. Adding compost or manure will enhance the nutrients the vegetable plants get from the soil. Mix the compost or manure in with a garden cultivator or tiller.

7. 

   Spread the soil again with a garden rake or hoe until it is even a relatively flat. Let the soil stand for several days to level itself before planting.

8. 

   Choose the vegetables you want to grow and plant them in the garden.

Tips & Warnings

• Properly preparing the soil for a vegetable garden means less work and more vegetable later.
• Always read directions when using garden chemicals of any kind.
• Use care when working with sharp gardening tools.