How to Break Soil for a Flower Bed

Remove all grass and weeds. When converting lawn space to a flower bed, kill the grass before digging. Spray the area with an herbicide, such as glyphosate, and remove the dead plants and their roots. If you prefer not to use chemicals, cover the area with black plastic sheeting and secure the edges with rocks, bricks or other heavy objects; this will kill all vegetation underneath the plastic in a couple of weeks. Spots with just a few weeds or small clumps of grass can be worked over with a hoe.

Gather your tools. A rototiller is the most efficient way to break up the soil in large areas. Consider borrowing a machine, or rent one if cost or storage space is an issue. Shovels can be used to break ground in smaller areas. Spades, garden forks and cultivators are also good tools for breaking up dirt clumps and turning the soil.

Break up the soil with a rototiller or shovel. Use a spade to cut and dig heavy dirt, and to chop up any clumps left behind by the rototiller. Once the clumps are dissolved, use a garden fork to turn the soil. Break down any remaining chunks with a cultivator. Work the area until 8 to 10 inches of topsoil has been penetrated. Several passes may be required to adequately break up the soil.

Amend the soil if necessary. Mix organic matter, like peat, manure or compost, into compacted or clay-based soil to allow space for air and water. Adding grass clippings or leaf mold will help the soil retain water in sandy areas. Spread 2 inches of organic matter on top of the soil, and use a spade or rototiller to mix it in about 4 to 6 inches deep. For every 1,000 square feet, use 4 cubic yards of organic matter. Smooth the entire surface with a garden rake. The bed is now ready for planting.