New Garden Area

[2manyrocks]

Thank you.

 

[bontai_Joe]

I'm not an environmental activist or tree hugger, but I get my water from a well on my property and therefore don't like chemicals in my garden or in my lawn. Living in northeast PA, I would start a new area by covering it first with black plastic to kill all the vegetation on top. I'll repeat what KML said, do NOT remove the top soil you have, it's WAY too precious. One the vegetation on top is dead (2 to 3 weeks) I'd till the dead stuff in very thoroughly to take advantage of the organic matter and recover with the tarp for another 1 to 2 weeks to kill any remaining seeds that might generate. After that You should be able to plant if your soil is looses enough. Whether you leave the tarp on or remove depends on how your soil retains moisture. My own soil is basically made of just enough dirt to fill in the spaces between the fist sized rocks, certainly not the best for gardening, but it will take years of amendments to get it decent. Unless you are blessed with rich loamy soil from the begining, you will find that gardening is a year long process of planting, harvesting, and then caring, improving and preparing the soil in what ever way you can to make it better for next year.

 

[oldmanmike]

Having just taken a week to bust up 1800 sq ft of thick turf with a rototiller, I say, plow it, harrow it, and rake it. Save the rototiller for next year.