COUNTRY GARDENING
Winter is a great time to prep garden soil for spring By Trisha Gedon Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service ow that winter has arrived, gardeners may think it is time to kick up their feet and relax for a while. However, before settling down into the recliner by the fireplace, gardeners may want to think about the soil in their garden and how they can make it even better before the next gardening season begins. It’s no secret that one of the keys to successful gardening is having good soil, said David Hillock, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension consumer horticulturist. “Soil rich in nutrients is one of the first steps to having a productive garden,” Hillock said. “But how do you know if you’ve got healthy soil? The best way is through soil testing. The outcome of the testing helps the gardeners know exactly what type and how much fertilizer a planting may require. It’s a cost-effective tool for managing your fertilizer program and now is the perfect time to conduct sampling.” It is a good idea to have your soil tested every two or three years to keep a check on nutrient levels. If you are just establishing a garden, yearly testing is recommended as it can take a few years to establish rich, healthy soils in a new garden plot. When doing a soil test, be sure to obtain a representative sample from the area being tested. To do this, collect a number of samples from across the entire area being tested and combine them into a single, representative sample. Samples can be taken with a soil probe, spade or hand trowel and should be taken to a depth of 6 inches. Be sure to scrape plant debris from the soil surface before 46 — Oklahoma Country