A garden is only as good as the soil that makes it. Having healthy soil for a garden or any type of landscaping is key. In this video we will be working with rototillers and cultivators. A rototiller helps break up your gardens soil for planting adding nutrients that the soil could be lacking. A cultivator does the same trick, but is used for much smaller areas and can not penetrate as deep. Prior to tilling the ground, make sure you are familiar with your ground. If you are breaking ground for the first time, be sure to remove the sod first, then use a tiller. For existing gardens, pull up any weeds before you begin to till. Before tilling evaluate the soil. If the soil is wet or thin you may want to build raised garden bed. If it is damp and has a high clay content add sand or gypsum. For other conditions use a soil test kit to see what nutrients the soil needs. The soils pH balance is another essential part of its health. Soil that has a low pH balance is acidic and lime or wood ash should be added. If the soil has a high pH balance you need to add peat moss, compost or saw dust to balance it's alkalinity. After you have balanced your soil, it is time to use a rototiller to blend the nutrients deep in the soil. It is best to till the land a few days after it has rained when the dirt is somewhat dry. To begin, set the depth of the tiller to a medium setting and start the tiller. Engage the drive and make parallel passes against the garden. Next, adjust the tiller to its deepest setting and make perpendicular rows until the matter is cultivated into the soil. Remember to let the tiller move on its own and let it do the work. Once the tilling process is finished, let the material decompose into the soil. This could take days or weeks depending on your preferences. Once decomposed, till perpendicularly to aerate, then parallel until the soil is loose, fluffy and textured, which is perfect for planting. For more helpful videos visit www.Lowes.com/Videos

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