Now is the Time to Prepare the Soil

Yes, it's the coldest day of the year so far - 9 degrees! But January is the time to begin preparing the soil. We are lucky in Texas that our ground doesn't freeze. We can work the ground and get it ready for, as soon as the soil temperature rises into the 40s, those little microscopic critters begin working, converting the raw materials into food for our plants.

My favorite soil amendments include organic materials such as compost, mulch, leaves, etc., and rock dusts such as green sand, and, what I call, power ingredients such as dried molasses and worm castings. Just broadcast on top and till or mix in. You really don't have to mix it in but it does seem to get the process started more quickly.

By putting these ingredients into the soil now, the microbes will have you garden soil ready to plant to spring!