Preparing the Soil for Your Vegetable Garden

A real estate professional since 2007, Wanda Tineo has extensive experience building and nurturing a network of interested home buyers. In her off-hours, Wanda Tineo invests her energy in vegetable gardening.

For vegetables to thrive, you need to plant them in the proper soil. The Gardening Know How website features general information on the right soil conditions. A great place to start is your local extension office, which can analyze a soil sample and tell you if it meets these criteria:

- Organic material. Soils rich in organics have many needed nutrients. They make the soil more manageable and permit roots to spread quickly. They also soak up water to refresh your vegetables.

- Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Known also as N-P-K, these essential elements supplement organic nutrients. It may be necessary to adjust the amounts of N-P-K according to your particular conditions.

- Trace elements, such as boron, manganese, zinc, and molybdenum.

- Proper pH. A pH number refers to whether the soil is acidic or alkaline. Although the optimum pH varies, most gardens require a level between 6 and 7. Soil pH outside that range should be raised or lowered.

Beginner’s Tips for Planting Flowers in Containers

Formerly a real estate agent with Kennedy & Kennedy in Piermont, New York, Wanda Tineo now serves home buyers in her own business. In her leisure time, Wanda Tineo tends to her beloved flower garden.

Newcomers to gardening often start small by growing flowers in containers, often for later planting in a new place. Here are some suggestions for attractive container gardening:

Start with the flower pot. Choose a good size, remembering the larger they are, the more they will weigh when you add soil and water. Make sure the drainage hole is big enough to prevent the plant from drowning. Cover holes larger than half an inch with a screen or coffee filter so the soil will not escape.

Potting soil is your best bet for growth since it has essential nutrients and weighs less than your yard’s soil. Some potting soils have fertilizer mixed in, and you can add plant food. When choosing flowers, go to the annual and bedding plants section of a nursery. Space them about two inches apart.

There are three techniques for selecting the colors of your container plants. For a single accent, select a brightly-colored flower, such as a red geranium or a pink impatiens. Add variety with a multi-color arrangement of the same plant with different hues. Stores often offer pre-selected combinations.

Go a step further with a mixed arrangement. One popular method includes tall plants, bushy ones, and plants that trail over the sides. The right combination of texture and color can make a mixed arrangement eye-catching.