When and how is it done?

New beds have to be dug up in any case

Unless you are just cleaning the topsoil and freshening up Mother Earth applied (for example, when converting a lawn into a vegetable garden), stands by first of all a thorough loosening of the bedding on all fresh beds and planting areas Program. In general, it is advisable to dig up all newly cultivated soils - including the thorough selection of Weed roots and stones. A good one is sufficient for digging up spade respectively. one Digging fork as well as sow tooth and rake, but also a powerful one Tiller does good service.

It is best to dig up the soil in autumn or winter

The digging or Other methods of deep loosening are also later part of the necessary annual routine for beds with annual vegetables and herbs. It's best to do this job right away in the autumnafter the beds have been harvested. But also in late winter - in good weather already in January - digging is still possible and then even has the advantage that wintering snails and other soil pests are removed at the same time.

Dig up the garden soil - that's how it works

The digging ensures that the soil is well mixed and aerated. In addition, root weeds and stones can be carefully removed. However, do not order the bed immediately after digging it up, but let it rest for about two weeks. This deadline must be observed in particular for any autumn plantings. You should also work the soil on slightly moist, but never wet, soil. Otherwise, there is a greater risk that the wet earth will become more compact. And this is how you proceed as best as possible when digging up:

• Prick the soil in rows with the spade.
• In doing so, you cut off clods that are as wide and as deep as the spade leaf itself.
• The clods of the first row are deposited on the edge of the row when digging up.
• As a result, a shallow ditch is created.
• Now cut off the clods of the second row.
• Turn them over and place them in the first row ditch.
• Continue row by row until the bed is dug up.
• Finally, distribute the clods in the first row evenly on the bed.

Fine tillage takes place in spring

The resulting coarse clods are automatically crushed by the winter frosts, In the spring, the fine tillage takes place, for which you proceed as follows:

• Chop up the coarse chunks of earth.
• Loosen the top layer of soil again.
• Remove all weed roots.
• Level the ground with a Rake or a rake.
• Then there are still a lot of coarse lumps,
• cultivate the soil again with a cultivator.
• Then ripe compost can be incorporated straight away.