Now that you have created your bed it is time to prepare the soil for planting. The necessary soil amendments depend on the type of soil you have.

It is always good to add biologically active amendments like compost to your soil. This will keep the micro organisms thriving and allow better nutrient uptake in your plants. If you have sandy soil this is especially important as sand tends to leach out nutrients as water passes through it. Some people choose to purchase composts from their local farm or garden store, but don’t forget you can produce your own compost for free using your yard and kitchen waste. You’ll know it is composting when it produces heat.

Soils turn acidic for several reasons. Nutrient leaching especially of Magnesium and Potassium is common in wetter climates and leads to acidic soils. The rock type in your area may tend toward acidity. And finally, the addition of fertilizers or compost causes the soil to become more acidic. For these reasons it is important to add lime, to make the pH more basic, every time you add compost to your soil.

If your soil is too basic, usually due to lack or organic activity or for geological reasons, the best remedy is increasing the organic content. Peat moss or decaying leaves are a good way to make the soils more acidic. The increase in biological content stimulates biological activity and leads to an increase in acidity of the soil.

Most other micro nutrients your plants need are already available from the compost and soil in place in your bed the key is maintaining the correct pH to allow your plant to be able to take up those nutrients. Different plants have different needs, for example berries prefer more acidic soils while vegetables like spinach prefer a pH closer to neutral.

Now that you have prepared your soil, it is time to start Planting From Seeds / Planting From Cuttings.