Hey everyone! I'm planning to create an in-ground garden bed in my side yard instead of investing in expensive raised beds. However, I learned that the previous owner worked on cars in that space, leading to poor planting results in the past. It's been quite a while since then—around 7-8 years since anyone tried growing anything there. If I do some heavy tilling and add good black dirt and compost, do you think I could safely plant directly in the ground? I'm hoping enough time has passed to make this a success with some tender loving care. Thanks for any advice!
2 Answers
Replacing all the soil seems like the safest move here. If you swap it out for clean soil, you'll have a much better chance of success with your plants! Just make sure to dig out a good depth to really clear any old contaminants. It's worth the effort!
Amending the existing soil could work as long as it hasn't gone toxic. Tilling about 12 inches deep should help mix in the new soil well. I'd also suggest doing a soil test to check for any harmful chemicals and to tweak the pH if needed. Better safe than sorry!
Thanks! What do you think about how deep I should remove the soil? Like, just the top foot or more?