I've refurbished an established vegetable garden spot by having three dumptruck loads of top soil put there. The soil came from a pond digging project on the other side of the property. On top of that I added a bunch of cut grass and chopped up leaves from fall cleanup. It has all settled down nicely. I just hired a fence company to erect an 8 foot vinyl clad chain link fence around it with a gate to keep the deer out (hopefully).
I am now undecided about whether or not to till the soil. It was tilled last fall but before I put the leaves and grass clippings in. Should I broadcast some type of balanced fertilizer and till it in before I plant next month............or should I just leave well enough alone and plant it up like it is?
Any advice is most appreciated.
To till or not to till...that is the question
What's the native soil like?
The native soil is nice rich black dirt for about a foot and a half or more down. Then you hit sandy soil and then clay. I've built the bed up pretty high by dumping extra topsoil on it. Now that the leaves and grass have decomposed mostly it should even be better I'm guessing. There are not many rocks or anything in there. This was at one time farmland decades ago and it is tiled and drained since it is in a flood plain. The garden is on one of the high hills so it has good drainage.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Recoiling with jealousy....
There. I'm better now. What I'd do iffen I were you is test the native soil for pH and NPK and then the top dressing you put onto it. If there were ever a candidate for NOT tilling, it's you... but then, I don't know the results of that soil test. If the numbers are wildly different between the two soils, tilling would be a good idea. Otherwise, enjoy your doubtless stellar garden. And post some pics!
Thanks Zeppy! I know I'll be fighting that wild field grass and weeds for a while. That is why I don't want to till it any more. It all did get worked in together last fall when we tilled except for the mixture of leaves and grass. I do need to do some hilling up to make my rows though. This will be my first big vegetable garden and I'm excited. Getting water out there is going to be a job but I have my RTV and a whole bunch of old watering cans I can fill and take out there till I find a better solution.
Drip tape is a wonderful thing, if you're able to swing it. Takes less water, helps w/ deep roots. I run one hose out to my garden a couple hundred yards away.
I would top dress the soil with some compost so you attract some worms and they will do the rest. Straw is good if you dont have compost enough. Keep it moist and look out perfect soil.
Thanks Soferdig for the tip on the compost. We did some planting this past week all over the property. It was trees and bushes I bought from the conservation department. I couldn't help but notice we have HUGE worms everywhere. I've never seen such fat worms before. I hope that is a good sign that our soil is good and will yield a good veggie garden. I did see a grub or two when we were planting. I guess that's normal right?
All grubs are beetles in diapers. they can be normal future bugs. I wouldn't worry unless they are millions the same. Also they are good eating. For birds and those who need lunch out in the woods and are hungry. LOL
This message was edited Apr 27, 2006 10:00 AM
This message was edited Apr 27, 2006 10:01 AM
Good eating for who?? :) :) Birds I hope.
Just happened on this thread, reading up on composting.
Those grubs are good eating, for my dog, lol. She loves them. But my first dog actually hunted the adult June Bugs at night as well, just imagine the crunching!!
Lynne
Loon, sounds like a garden area I'd almost kill for!