If you think about it, a plant is a combination of energy from the sun, water, and nutrients in the soil. A plant begins as a tiny seed, and it has to get the raw physical matter for its growth from somewhere, and that somewhere is soil. What food is to human soil is to a plant. With this in mind, it is extremely important that you spend a good portion of your gardening time preparing soil. There is little that you can do about the amount of sunlight in a given area, but the soil can be altered. Before you start growing anything consider improving your soil. Described below are some basic tips for making healthy and rich growing soil.

As you probably know, a key ingredient for the growth of healthy plant life is air. However, it is just as important that plants have access to air below the surface of the ground as above it. Soil that is too compact will suffocate the plant and retard its growth. Furthermore, extremely compressed soil can seal water in around the roots, thereby drowining them and causing rot. To prepare your soil for planting loosen it up with a shovel or other garden tool. Dig down several inches, turning over the soil and breaking it up. Look for large, thick clumps of soil and break them up so that the remainder is loose dirt.

Digging and forking through the soil allows you to loosen any compaction, remove weeds and debris as well as providing the perfect opportunity to add the organic matter. Plants need good soil conditions if they are to give the best results. Improving the soil with plenty of organic matter in the form of compost helps drainage and aeration on heavy soils and conserves essential moisture on light ones.

Now mix a healthy dose of compost or manure into the stirred up soil. Mix thoroughly, until there is a nice even layer of manure and dirt extending several inches down. Walk across the area padding it down with your shoes. Do not stamp on the ground as this will compact it and undo the digging you have just done. Finally, sprinkle some fertiliser on the surface of the ground (follow instructions on package) and then rake or dig it into the surface.
Following these basic steps you can greatly improve the quality of your soil. For more significant changes pertaining to your area of the country, you might want to conduct a PH test to see if your soil is to acidic or basic for certain plants. However, if you are simply preparing a small garden or flower bed the techniques described above should help a great deal. With some hard work and patience you will see dramatice changes in the quality of plant life coming from a well prepared soil. It is a necessity for any serious gardner and garden.