One of the best ways to improve your soil quality is to build raised beds. A raised bed can be anywhere from three inches high to 3-4 feet high. You can make edges for the beds to hold the soil in place or slant the soil and tamp in place. I myself prefer edging.

The shallower beds make fast new gardens and are placed in areas where the soil is ok but just needs new nutrients for better crops.

The three to four foot gardens are placed in areas where you need a lot of new nutrients or where the soil is extremely poor. Another great use for the higher beds is in hillsides where they act as a wall or for people with bad backs or disabilities.

One of my favorite uses for three-foot high raised bed is for planting watermelons and other melons. These plants need extra fertilizer and the deeper beds I fill half full on manure and top with compost. I have great crops of melons with little work. I also sink a plastic milk jug upside down in the center with the bottom cut off for deep watering. Just fill the milk jug when the bed is dry and the planter waters itself. Using this method the water goes deeply into the soil and the soil will not dry out as fast.

Creating a new bed will also improve the spoil. Just mark out the area you intend to use and till or dig up that area. You can either add bags of compost or organic materials to the area and till or dig it up again to mix in the newly added nutrients. Once your new soil is mixed well you will be ready to plant.

Another fast and very easy way to improve the soil is to use the lasagna garden technique. Here is an article on Lasagna Gardening: http://thegardenersrake.com/lasagna-gardening-history-and-how-to-make-a-lasagna-garden

Good soil is one of the most important steps in successful gardening.

Tags: how to improve soil, raised beds, adding nutrients, lasagna gardening

The 10 most popular homegrown vegetables in the USA and Canada are listed below in the order of their popularity.

The tomato tops the list as the most popular vegetable but it is technically a fruit!

Both heirloom tomatoes and new varities of tomatoes are popular along with the cherry tomatoes, which are primarily used in salads.

1. Tomatoes (once considered evil and poisonous by many people)
2. Peppers (hot peppers con be used to aid in colds and cayenne pepper can help heal a deep cut)
3. Cucumbers (the inside of a cucumber can be up to twenty degrees cooler than the outside temperature. This is where the saying cool as a cumber came from)
4. Onions (used as a cold remedy and they are said to help cure many ailments)
5. Beans (Snap beans grow in both green and yellow varieties. There is a purple wax bean that turns green when it is cooked)
6. Lettuce (Americans consume about 30 lbs. of lettuce each, per year)
7. Carrots (English women in the 1600’s often wore carrot leaves in their hats in place of flowers or feathers)
8. Sweet Corn (Corn is the most widely grown crop in America but only 10% is used at the dinner table)
9. Radishes (radishes were originally grown for their size and could be as large as 50 to 100 pounds each)
10. Cabbage. (Babe Ruth uses a cabbage leaf under his ball cap to keep cool. He changed it every two innings)

Tomatoes are grown in over 85% of all gardens and Cabbage is grown in 30% of all gardens.

The potato is not on the list for being grown in US and Canadian gardens but is the most popular vegetable used in United States. Head lettuce is the second most popular followed by onions.

Garden lore and odd facts of vegetables add fun and create stories to tell while gardening.

Tags: ten most popular vegetables, vegetable lore, vegetable facts,

So you have chosen a tree for your yard and taken into consideration the size it will grow to and made sure it will survive and thrive in your climate.

If you have not dug a hole for your tree is will be your first task. I dig my holes for trees in stages so my back does not tire as fast. It also gives me a chance to see if the soil in this area drains well. I will often pour a bucket of water in the hole to see if it holds water…not a good sign. You need good drainage for the tree roots.

When your hole is dug you can check to make sure the hole is the proper size for the tree. If its too shallow the tree will not get enough water to the upper roots and if its too deep it will be hard on the tree trunk. Both situations will affect the trees growth.

Note: A rule of thumb is to measure the root ball and plan on digging a hole that’s 6 inches wider and deeper than it. This applies for bare root plants too, but I prefer root ball trees and shrubs.

I use some of the soil I dug out of the hole to make a little bed for the base of the root ball in the hole. Tamp it down hard. This will balance your tree while you finish the rest of the planting.

Lower the balled root, which is still covered, into the hole. Carefully Position the tree so that the top of the root ball will sit just under the ground when it’s level. Many people plant the root ball too deep.

The tree may be heavy so be careful when you place the tree root ball on the base you made in the bottom of the planting hole. You don’t want to strain your back. A second pair of hands may be wise. The base must be firm to hold the tree in place.

Now it’s time to remove the wrappings and any clips from the root ball. You will also cut back the natural burlap and twine around the sides of the root ball. You can leave it with the tree in the hole and bury it when you fill in the hole. It’s not necessary to remove burlap from the bottom of the root ball because 98 percent of root growth will be on the sides.

Fill the hole halfway with the soil and tamp it lightly to remove any air pockets. Make sure the tree or shrub is standing straight up. I also add a little water at this time to make sure any air pockets are gone and that the soil compacts as much as it can.

Now I mix the rest of the soil that is left with some additional peat and compost. I add about 1/3 more of peat and compost to the soil and finish filling the hole. Water the tree thoroughly to make sure it has settled and that all air pockets are gone. Add any additional soil that may be needed, Tamp the soils well and enjoy the look of your new tree.
 
Note: I usually stake my trees at first. It makes sure that the tree stands tall and prevents it moving in a high windstorm. Use flat tree straps made of a soft material. Make sure to leave enough slack for some sway in the winds.

Trees add years on enjoyment to a yard. They also add value to your property and homes for wildlife. Here is an additional post that will help you choose a tree for your yard: http://thegardenersrake.com/earth-day-is-approaching-make-plans-to-plant-a-tree-or-shrub

Tags: How to plant a tree, planting a tree