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Q: We decided to remove a large swath of small river rock that borders the sidewalk to the entrance of our home that we鈥檝e lived in for two years. That rock space gets lots of sun and during the hottest time of the year you can actually feel the heat being released by the rock in the evening. It鈥檚 been a lot of work, but we鈥檝e cleared a space that is four feet wide and about 20 feet long. There was plastic under the rock and lots of sand that had accumulated over the years, so it was heavy work. The soil under everything looks really sad. Sort of orange-brown and completely compressed. We鈥檙e thinking of planting some smallish shrubs and some sun-loving perennials but wonder what should we do for that soil to make it healthier so we can plant in it? 鈥� S.C., sa国际传媒官网网页入口

A: So for two years that you know of, that space was covered with weighty rock and under it was a layer of plastic, right? It鈥檚 no wonder the soil looks sad.

The first thing I鈥檒l suggest is to turn the soil, and turn the soil, and turn the soil. Your big aim is to reoxygenate it. It鈥檚 been oxygen-deprived for who knows how long, and to plant in it at this stage would be death for whatever was planted.

If you can, employ a small rototiller and let it do most of the work. If not, then use a spade, impaled as deep as you can. This project will be heavy, too. You鈥檝e got to get the soil refluffed up.

Now as you鈥檙e turning, keep an eye out for rocks and any nonsoil matter. All that should be pitched. Aim for the softest, silkiest soil you can create.

If it still looks puny after a couple of weeks of religious turning, still sort of off-color, then it鈥檚 time to add some compost, bagged garden soil or well-aged manure to give the area a boost and get some microbes working in that stagnant soil. How much, you ask? Well, more is always better.

Here鈥檚 a way to think of how much to add. Most soil amendment products are sold in cubic foot measurements. Since I鈥檓 no math whiz, I taught myself to visualize things this way. You鈥檝e purchased several 1 cubic foot bags of, let鈥檚 say, compost. Now, visualize a cube 1 foot tall, wide and deep. If you cut that 鈥渃ube鈥� into 1 inch slices or tiles, with each bag you can cover an area of 12 square foot tiles at an inch thick. You have approximately 80 square feet in your space (4 feet x 20 feet, equals 80 feet). Divide the 80 by 12, and you will need 6.65 cubic foot bags (at least) to cover that space an inch thick.

Once you turn that inch under, into the existing area, it won鈥檛 look like you鈥檝e done a thing, so that鈥檚 why I say more is better.

Once you鈥檝e added the amendments, water the area thoroughly to settle everything and a couple of weeks later turn the whole kit and caboodle again. A lot of turning, adding soil amendments and water, will be the only way you can get that area reawakened and ready to support plant life.

I recommend you put off planting in this space until late summer to be sure the soil is healthier. You might consider sowing a cover crop of white Dutch clover for the time being, growing it for several weeks, and then turn it under. The composting (decomposing) clover would add minerals galore to assist getting that soil in better shape.

I feel in my heart that this space would benefit from being fussed with by the turning and watering phases for weeks before you plant in it. Keep a sharp eye out for any weed interlopers, pull and pitch on a very regular basis. It鈥檚 going to get hot soon and since this space gets lots of sun, truly, I鈥檇 spend the summer getting this space鈥檚 soil more receptive before planting.

Happy Diggin鈥� In!

Tracey Fitzgibbon is a certified nurseryman. Send garden-related questions to Digging In, sa国际传媒官网网页入口, 7777 Jefferson St. NE, sa国际传媒官网网页入口, N.M. 87109, or to features@abqjournal.com.