Taking the time to properly prepare your flowerbeds before you plant will save you time and effort over the summer. Many gardening problems can be avoided with good preparation and maintenance.
1. Loosen the soil with a large garden fork and remove the weeds. Avoid working the soil when it is very wet or very dry because you will damage the structure by breaking down the pockets that hold air and water.
2. Add organic matter and work it into the soil with a spade, fork, or rototiller. Organic matter is an important component of soil. It increases the water holding and nutrient holding capacity of sandy soil and binds together the large particles. In a clay soil, organic matter will increase the water absorbing and draining potential by opening up spaces between the tiny particles. Common organic additives for your soil are grass clippings, shredded leaves, peat moss, chopped straw, well-rotted manure, or composted hemlock bark.