When should you till your garden in the spring?

When should you till your garden in the spring?

Tilling in Spring Till the soil when it reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, using a quick-release fertilizer rather than a slow-release one if you want to fertilize while tilling. Wait two to three weeks after tilling before planting seeds or seedlings.

Should I till or aerate?

Aerating is similar to tilling except it takes place once the crops have already begun to grow. This ensures that the soil gets oxygen, while also pulling up weeds. Aerating should always take place when there’s not too much moisture in the soil. A good way of testing this is to walk over the soil.

Is tilling a garden necessary?

Tilling is actually a form of deep cultivation that is necessary when preparing a new garden bed or when adding large amounts of organic material. Tilling will cultivate the soil 8-10 inches deep, perhaps even more if you are creating a new garden bed in an area where the soil is very poor.

What are the disadvantages of tilling?

The downside of tilling is that it destroys the natural soil structure, which makes soil more prone to compaction. By exposing a greater surface area to air and sunlight, tilling reduces soil’s moisture-retaining ability and causes a hard crust to form on the soil surface.

Should I remove weeds before tilling?

The killed weeds will decompose and add nutrients and humus to the garden. Tall or extensive, spreading weeds need to be pulled up before tilling, including tree seedlings. Otherwise the stems will clog the tines or prevent the tines from consistently reaching the soil.

What to do after tilling?

After the tiller breaks through the remaining grass and loosens the soil, the grass remaining in the soil still can grow from its roots and/or seeds. Unless you want to fight weeds and grass throughout the gardening season, remove the remaining grass before you plant crops, advises the National Gardening Association.