3 Tips for Preparing Square Foot Gardening Soil

One big advantage of using square foot gardening soil is that your plants get the nourishment they need, because the ground is fertile. Because the space is not walked on, the soil is never compacted. Square foot gardens are ideal for small spaces because you don’t need to plant in rows, but instead use the space that’s available to you. Since the plants are planted close to each other, there are fewer amounts of weeds that need to be removed. The type of soil you use is important because it can affect the survival of plants and the yield of the garden. It’s best to use rich, loose soil for your garden. Here are three tips to prepare it:

1. Select the Right Ingredients

Use a mixture of equal proportions of compost, vermiculite and peat moss. These are easily available at your local hardware or gardening store. You should use this mixture to fill your containers with at least 6 to 8 inches of soil.

2. Use Quality Compost

The composition of the compost you use is important. It’s best to use homemade compost consisting of leaves, grass and wood mulch. If you don’t have sufficient amounts of homemade compost, you can buy it from the store. Buy five different types of compost and use a mixture of all these so that your compost contains all the nutrients that are essential for the plants.

3. Use of Leaves and Grass Clippings

When you lay down the soil in the square foot garden, put in a layer of leaves and grass at the bottom so that air is added to the garden. The leaves and grass will decompose over time to enrich the soil, and the presence of this layer will keep the garden dry during the winters.

The yield of a square foot garden depends on the soil being used, so make sure you don’t use soil that’s available in your yard. Make a soil mixture consisting of peat moss, compost and vermiculite.