Soil rest time after tilling?

Question

So last fall I mulched my vegetable garden by raking all the leaves from the yard into it.  Some time in the next several weeks I'm going to add some composted manure and roto-till the "campaign promises" and the leaves into the soil. Should I let the garden rest after roto-tilling or can I plant immediately?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

If you are mixing in manure, manure has a lot of salt in it.  Therefore, I would let it sit for about one week while watering it lightly.  Then turn your soil and plant.  Too much salt can harm your new plants and stunt growth.

Johnny · Answer

Hi Gordon

I have a friend who dug all of the soil out of his 12 X 12 garden down to one foot.  He layered it with soil cloth and filled it back in with 12 inches of composted horse stable bedding.  I thought his plants would not do so well with that much added but he had one of the best gardens I have seen.

The trick is to make sure the bedding has been composted.  If it is composted it will not burn your plants.  If it has composted, it has already rested.

Hope this helps

Johnny

Mike · Answer

I would water it in and let it sit for about one week.  Then turn the soil and you can plant.

Sailin_Away · Answer

I just rake it smooth and start planting, I really don't see what waiting will do.

Whatevers · Answer

What are you planting?

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Soil rest time after tilling?

5 Answers