Knowing how to till your soil is something that requires balance, a steady hand, and the right timing. If trying to learn how to till your soil, there are some things you should know. First, you need to know when to till your soil which usually should be once a year. Tilling soil should always be done when growing a new garden or using soil that has never grown plants. The best to learn how to till your soil is in the spring. Soil temperature should be at least 65 degrees when learning how to till your soil. Some thermometers will tell you the temperature of your soil, and this is something that should be in every gardening kit. Once the soil is at a suitable temperature, it is always best to clear away any harmful insects and weeds that could come to choke your plants later on. Make sure weeds and weed roots are removed; weed roots can form new weeds and will come to breech your prized garden later on. Use organic weed killer if concerned about any chemicals, and make sure any gardening area is free of weed killer so it will not come to inject your plants later down the road. Ensure the area is free of aphid infestation and flies that like to mess around with plants, especially fruits and veggies. As with any chemical, make sure the area is clean and free of chemicals before tilling.
Once the area is clean, tilling the soil requires a slow loosening of the soil bed for roots to grow properly. Be sure not to over-till the soil; make smooth strokes with your tilling fork, and do not go back. Tilling your soil is necessary, but overdoing it can ruin the soil bed and damage the underground tunnels of earthworms. Earthworms will be your best friend since they naturally loosen the soil and provide natural fertilizer to keep your soil healthy. Placing a bed of compost over the soil will help you to improve soil quality. This will especially be important since a good balance of nutrient soil needs to contain phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium for proper growth. However, this will all depend on what type of plant you are growing, and there may be other sources of nutrients that a plan will need to survive. Always check with your local nursery to see the best tilling methods and the types of nutrients that your garden will need.
