- 1). Dig a trench one shovel-length deep (nine or ten inches) and the length of your planting area.
- 2). Pile the soil in a wheelbarrow.
- 3). Loosen the soil at the bottom of the trench another nine to ten inches.
- 4). Add organic material, such as compost, and any necessary soil amendments. Using a spading fork, thoroughly mix them into the subsoil.
- 5). Dig a second trench parallel to the first and repeat steps 2 and 3.
- 6). Use the topsoil from the second trench to fill the first one, adding more organic matter and mixing it in.
- 7). Repeat the procedure until you've dug, enriched and amended the entire planting area.
- 8). Fill the last trench with the topsoil you put in the wheelbarrow when you dug the first trench, enriching it with organic matter as you did before.
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