I'm gardening in Zone 6, southwest Ohio, and I'm getting ready for my second year with three garden beds. Last year, I filled them with garden dirt and fertilizer, but now I'm seeing a lot of weeds popping up. What should I do to prepare the beds before I start planting seeds or seedlings this year?
1 Answer
Definitely start by pulling those weeds! It's super important to clear them out. After that, I'd recommend adding about an inch of compost to your beds. This will help replenish the nutrients that were used by last year's crops. Also, don’t forget to mulch after planting—that'll keep moisture in the soil, which is especially great for your plants.
Also, I appreciate the mulch advice! My watermelon and cucumbers struggled last year, and I think this might have been the issue.
Thanks for the tip! I can get some horse manure—would that be beneficial for my beds?