Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Easy Ways to Break Up Hard Soil for a Garden
Easy Ways to Break Up Hard Soil for a Garden. If you want to plant a garden, it's crucial that all soil is loose, soft and free of any large obstructions like rocks or roots. There are all sorts of garden tools to help break up the soil, but a specific few will really help you get the job done. These tools can be combined to make good garden soil...
If you want to plant a garden, it's crucial that all soil is loose, soft and free of any large obstructions like rocks or roots. There are all sorts of garden tools to help break up the soil, but a specific few will really help you get the job done. These tools can be combined to make good garden soil that is ready to be fertilized and used. Alternatively, if you have clay soil, use a rototiller to till the area thoroughly until the clay is broken up with no big lumps
Things You'll Need
Hoe
Shovel
Broad fork
Rake
Rototiller (optional)
Break up the first few inches of the soil with the hoe. Beat the soil with either end of the hoe to loosen up initial plant life and other lightly embedded materials.
Remove larger and more stubborn rocks with the help of a shovel. Stick the shovel beneath the rock, place your foot firmly on the shovel and pull the handle down to create leverage and lift the rock out.
Break up and remove any roots beneath the soil with the broad fork. Stab the soil as deep as possible multiple times with the broad fork at a 45-degree angle to penetrate through deeply compacted soil and the roots themselves.
Rake the area well to remove all smaller pieces of debris from the garden area.
Tips & Warnings
If you are breaking up clay soil, it will need to be amended before planting, reports the University of California at Davis.
