By Jennifer Langille
Creating a healthy, productive garden starts from the ground up. Whether you’re dreaming of bursting flower beds, a lush cottage garden, or rows of homegrown vegetables, preparing your soil well is one of the most important things you can do. A well-prepared bed gives your plants the best start and sets the tone for the whole season.
Here’s a detailed, gardener-approved guide to getting your beds off on the right foot:
- Choose the Right Location
Before you grab a shovel, take time to observe your space:
- Sunlight: Most vegetables and flowers thrive in full sun (6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily). For part-shade lovers like hostas or astilbes, look for areas that get morning sun and afternoon shade.
- Drainage: Avoid soggy spots or low areas where water collects. If you must use them, consider building raised beds. Alternatively, select plants that prefer to have their feet wet – often referred to as bog plants.
- Wind exposure: Especially in open areas like hayfields or coastal areas, wind can dry out soil quickly or batter young plants. Use hedging, fencing, or even strategic shrub plantings to create shelter.
2. Define Your Borders
Outlining your bed helps give it a tidy appearance and keeps grass from creeping in.
- Use stakes and a garden hose or some spray paint to sketch out curves or straight lines before edging.
For lasting edges, consider brick, stone, wood, or even woven willow if you like a natural look.
3. Clear the Area
If you’re working over grass or weedy ground, you have a few options:
- Manual removal: Dig up the sod with a spade and shake off excess soil. Compost the grass if it’s free of invasive weeds.
- Sheet mulching: Lay down 6–8 layers of newspaper or a layer of cardboard, then top with compost, leaves, or soil. Let nature break down the grass underneath—this can take a few months, so it’s ideal for fall prep.
- Solarization or tarping: Cover with black plastic in warm months to smother weeds using the sun’s heat. Make sure the edges of the plastic are secured with soil, boards or rocks both to keep the plastic from blowing away and to help build up the required weed-killing heat. This method is slow but very effective, especially for persistent weed patches. Depending on the time of year and heat intensity, it may take several months to kill the vegetation, so be patient!
4. Test Your Soil
Soil testing is your best friend—don’t skip this step!
- DIY kits are fine for a basic pH reading, but for nutrient levels and texture, take a sample to our provincial laboratory service at the Harlow Institute located at 176 College Road, Bible Hill. Phone 902-893-7444 for information.
- The data from your soil test, including pH and fertility, guide your amendments. Our Nova Scotia soils, for example, often benefit from lime to reduce acidity and improve calcium levels.
Keep a notebook or binder with your soil test results, and date them. You’ll build a useful soil history over time.
5. Dig In (or Not!)
When it comes to prepping your garden bed, how much digging you do depends on your soil – and your energy level!
If you’ve got light, sandy soil, digging down 6–8 inches is usually enough. For heavy clay or compacted soils, double digging can make a big difference. This method involves removing the top layer of soil to one spade’s depth, loosening the layer beneath with a garden fork, and mixing in compost before replacing the topsoil. Double digging helps to:
Improve drainage and aeration, giving plant roots the space and oxygen they need to thrive
Break up compacted layers, allowing water and nutrients to reach deeper into the soil
Boost soil fertility by incorporating compost or well-rotted manure into the root zone
Encourage earthworms and beneficial microbes, which contribute to healthy, living soil
Support stronger root growth and improve resilience to drought and disease.
Tilling is another option, especially for large or grassy areas, but use it with care—frequent tilling can damage soil structure and stir up dormant weed seeds. One pass to break new ground might be all you need.
Prefer to skip the digging altogether? The no-dig method is gaining popularity for good reason. Just layer compost or well-rotted manure on top of the soil (or even cardboard and compost over grass) and let nature take over. In 2-6 months, worms, moisture, and plant roots will work that goodness down into the soil with minimal effort from you.
Feeling adventurous? Try hügelkultur, a German method that layers logs, twigs, leaves, and compost to build up a raised bed. It’s a bit more work upfront, but it creates moisture-retentive, nutrient-rich soil that lasts for years.
Whatever method you choose, finish by raking the surface smooth and clearing out any large clumps, stones, or sticks. Then step back—your bed is almost ready for planting.
6. Improve the Soil
This is where the magic happens:
- Compost: A layer of 2–3 inches of well-rotted compost improves fertility, texture, and microbial life.
- Aged manure: Excellent for most garden beds—just make sure it’s been composted first to avoid burning young plants or adding unwanted weed seeds.
- Other amendments: Based on your soil test, you might add lime, bone meal, rock phosphate, or seaweed products. Avoid over-amending. It’s easier to add more later than to fix too much.
For a list of local suppliers of soil amendments, check our resources page.
7. Let It Rest (Optional)
If you’ve prepped early, let the bed settle for a couple of weeks before planting. This gives time for microbial activity to kick in and for the soil structure to stabilize.
Final Touches
Let’s be honest—preparing new garden beds can feel like the most daunting part of gardening. What’s the easiest way? Just start digging? Fire up a tiller? Cover the grass and wait it out? The truth is, it depends on your soil and how much effort you want to put in.
If you’re feeling stuck, ask a neighbour what they do. Chances are, they’ve tried a few methods and have some helpful tips (and maybe even tools to lend).
No matter how you get there, once your bed is prepped, the soil will be loose, rich, and ready for planting. Your plants will thank you with fewer problems and more flowers or food—and you’ll know all that effort was worth it.
May 2025