Soil Care Schedule for Your In-Ground or Raised Bed Garden
This article details how to maintain and care for established raised bed or in-ground gardens year after year, using our recommended No-Till Gardening methodology. If you are just starting a new raised bed, check out this article!
Late Winter (late January-early March)
Step 1: Trim last season’s plants out at the soil line (or just below the soil) with pruners or a small hand saw, and leave the root system in place.
Step 2: Scrape any mulch from last season away from the growing area to expose the soil. Do not dispose of the mulch.
Step 3: Add a 2-3” layer of compost to the top of soil. No need to mix in, the microbes will do that for you as they process the new organic matter!
- SOILUTIONS RECOMMENDS: Soilutions Compost is an all-purpose nutrient blast with the essential microbial life needed to supplement your soil ecosystem, fostering an environment designed for maximum plant health.
Step 4: Add a 2” layer of mulch to the top of the soil. You can repurpose the mulch you removed in Step 2, add new mulch or do a combination of both.
- SOILUTIONS RECOMMENDS: Our Forest Floor Mulch is a terrific choice for raised beds since it contains 10% compost for added slow release nutrients.
Step 5: Allow these two completely natural additives to provide slow release nutrients and moisture that, along with the left-behind plant roots, slowly break down to rejuvenate the soil for your next planting season
Mid Summer (June-August)
During hot summer months, your plants are in high growth mode, while also often dealing with extreme temperatures. This means they are heavily feeding and could deplete the nutrients from your soil. Time for a boost!
Step 1: Top dress around each plant with 1-2 tbps. of Soilutions Soil Food, a high nitrogen boost that will feed your soil and in turn, your plants.
Step 2: MUST ADD MULCH! Hopefully your garden already has a layer of mulch, but if not, or if it is getting low, be sure to add mulch now. This essential step is the sunscreen for your soil. It locks in moisture and nutrients to keep your soil organisms happy and thriving.
