How to Make Backyard Soil Fertile

Till or turn the soil to a depth of 10 to 12 inches. Remove any foreign bodies from the soil, such as large rocks and roots. This prepares your soil for amending with organic matter.

Spread a 3- to 4-inch layer of compost, well-rotted manure or leaf mold over the tilled area. Work the organic matter into the soil with a garden tiller or garden fork until the organic matter is blended into the existing soil. The amount of compost or manure required depends on the composition and condition of your soil. Your soil may require more or less organic matter, but 3 to 4 inches of organic matter is a reasonable starting point.

Amend with peat moss, if your soil is either dense clay or sandy. Peat moss improves aeration in dense soils and improves the water-holding capacity in sandy soils — which directly affects the ability of plants to access and use the nutrients in the soil. The amount required depends on the makeup of your soil, but a 2- to 3-inch layer is a good start.

Apply a balanced fertilizer, following the recommended application rate on the container. Typically, 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 provides the nutrients garden vegetables need to thrive, but there are many formulas to choose from. An inexpensive soil test kit from the local hardware store provides a quick analysis of the nutrients in your soil and can provide guidance for choosing and applying fertilizer.