Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a highly popular vine that responds well when cut back to manage its size and spread, or to encourage branching for denser growth.We link to vendors to help you f
28.06.2023 - 09:00 / southernliving.com
Warmer weather means spending more time outside. This means time for planning and preparing your garden space. But before you can begin sowing seeds or planting starters, such as strawberries, tomatoes, or sunflowers, you’ll need to make sure the soil is ready. One way to prepare the soil is by tilling. Tilling is when you turn over the soil and add amendments to get it ready for planting. But not every gardener agrees that tilling is the best method.
What Is Garden Tilling?Garden tilling is the process of turning over the top layer of soil, breaking it up and adding air to the soil. “Tilling is a mechanical process that takes soil from below the ground and brings it up to the surface and breaks it up or loosens it” says Kim Roman, expert gardener for Square Foot Gardening 4 U, a online source for gardening classes, and author of How to Garden Indoors & Grow Your Own. “This will help the roots of your plants be able to move more easily through the soil.” Aerated soil helps plants receive all the different nutrients they need to grow.
Tilling can be done manually or with a motorized tiller, also called a roto-tiller. However, tilling can cause more harm to your soil than benefits, so you’ll want to consider whether it makes sense for your area and needs.
The Risks Of Tilling To Soil HealthTilling the soil isn’t something that should be done frequently, and there is controversy if it should be done at all. The truth is, tilling can be harmful to the soil. “If tilling is done too often, it can change the soil structure,” explains Angelo Randaci, Master Gardener and Horticulture Expert at Earth’s Ally. “This can cause soil runoff and erosion.”
Tilling can cause other problems, such as too many weeds in your garden plot.
Star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides) is a highly popular vine that responds well when cut back to manage its size and spread, or to encourage branching for denser growth.We link to vendors to help you f
Blueberries are one of those easy-to-grow garden plants whose fruit provides you with incredible nutrition – and tasty treats!If you fertilize them correctly in the s
I love the early summer because the weather is lovely, the whole season stretches out before you, and most importantly… it’s the beginning of gooseberry season!In my area, the end of June means
The gardens at Great Dixter.
No one will ever mistake a garden fruit for a candy bar. But flavorful, homegrown tomatoes that taste sweet are a treat in their own right.Numerous varieties are able to claim the
We dutifully prune our fruit trees and our rose bushes, but not all of us are taking the same care with our tomatoes.We link to vendors to help you find re
You put a plant in what you thought was the perfect place, but over the years that location turns out to be less than ideal. Who among gardeners hasn’t been there before?Maybe you didn’t realize how big the b
Some gardeners like to joke that the only strict gardening rule is to plant green side up. But we know that a healthy garden begins with the opposite end of that green growth, starting with the importance of soil. Many new gardeners and even those with years of experience under their belts may not spend much time thinking about their soil unless they notice a problem. For example, if the ground turns mucky from too much rain or starts cracking because of a dry spell. However, soil is critical to a garden's success, so you should pay close attention to it — especially before planting, when it's easiest to make changes.
If you want a beautiful plant and a full harvest of tart and tangy elderberries, adding fertilizer is a task you can’t put off if you want to enjoy the fruits of your labor to the fullest.Fertilizing will not only help your plant
Many people don’t tend to think of plants as living things in need of feeding. This feature tends to stand out more in animals, what with their gaping mouths and (sometimes) teeth.But plants need to be fed as well, even the
Canna lilies are happiest growing in moist, fertile, slightly acidic soil. But what should you do in terms of providing fertilizer to help ensure that they produce beautiful blooms?These plants are native to tropical
Maybe it’s because I always struggled with math in school, but anytime I see numbers and measurements, I balk.Unfortunately for my plants, this includes