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University of Illinois Extension serving Cook County

Main Office (Cook County)
8751 Greenwood Avenue, Suites 112-122
Chicago, IL 60619
Phone: 773-768-7779
FAX: 773-768-4818
Email:uie-cook@illinois.edu
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Branch Office
1140 N. Lamon
Floor 2
Chicago, IL 60651
Phone: 773-287-8333
FAX: 773-287-8335
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Branch Office
1111 East 87th Street
Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60619
Phone: 773-933-6774
FAX: 773-933-6768
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Branch Office
One Prairie Office Center, Suite 208
4749 Lincoln Mall Drive
Matteson, IL 60443
Phone: 708-679-6889
FAX: 708-679-6855
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am to 4 pm

Branch Office
3rd District Court House
2121 West Euclid, Room 251
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
Phone: 847-818-2901
FAX: 847-818-2904
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm

Branch Office
10244 South Vincennes Avenue
Chicago, IL 60643
Phone: 773-233-2900
FAX: 773-233-9183
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Branch Office
Enterprise Center
2205 Enterprise Drive, Suite 501
Westchester, IL 60154
Phone: 708-449-4320
FAX: 708-492-1805
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am to 4 pm

Branch Office
11855 Archer Avenue
Lemont, IL 60439
Phone: 630-685-2355
FAX: 630-257-2088
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm

News Release

Accent photo

Tips for Getting Your Garden Soil Ready

February 3, 2012

The ideal garden soil is deep, friable, well drained and has high organic matter content, whether you are dealing with vegetables, flowers, turf or trees. Proper soil preparation provides the basis for good seed germination and subsequent growth of plants, states David Robson, University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.

Check soil fertility and pH by having your soil tested at least once every three years. Soil pH measures the degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Vegetables vary to some extent in their requirements, but most garden crops will do well with a soil pH of 6.2 to 6.8. This is a little below neutral or slightly acid (sour).

If soil pH is too high or too low, poor crop growth will result—largely due to the effects of pH on the availability of nutrients to plants. A soil test will also give you a relative idea of the nutrient level in the soil. If you need instructions on getting a soil sample for testing, contact your local U of I Extension office.

If you are putting in new plantings in an existing lawn, remove sod with a spade. Then use it to patch your lawn, or you can put it in a compost pile to decay. Plow, spade or rototill the soil. Work only when soil moisture conditions are right. To test, pick up a handful of soil and squeeze it. If it stays in a mud ball, it is too wet. If it freely crumbles, it should be about right.

Excessively dry soil is powdery and clumpy and may be difficult to work. If soil sticks to a shovel or, if when spading the turned surface is shiny and smooth, it is too wet. Robson says that working soils when they are excessively wet can destroy soil structure, which may take years to rebuild.

Plowing with a tractor when the soil is wet is especially damaging, causing the formation of a compaction layer that will inhibit root growth. Soils with adequate humus levels generally allow more leeway because of their improved structural qualities.

Just before planting, break up large clods of soil and rake the bed level. Small-seeded vegetables germinate best in smooth, fine-surfaced soil. Do not pulverize the seedbed soil. This destroys the structure and promotes crusting and erosion problems.

The type of equipment used to prepare your garden will depend on the size of the garden, your physical ability, time and budget. Options include hand digging with a spade or shovel, tilling with a power rotary tiller, using a small garden tractor or using a full-sized farm tractor.

Source: David J. Robson, Extension Specialist, PSEP, drobson@illinois.edu

Local Contact: Ron Wolford, Extension Educator, Urban Horticulture, rwolford@illinois.edu