Healthy Soil

Step 1: Mix It Up
to a 10- to 12-inch depth. For every 100 square feet of planting area, mix in 16 to 24 square feet of compost. For sandy areas, mix in a larger amount of compost.

Step 2: Walk on Eggshells
Improve your soil with coffee grounds, earthworm castings and crushed eggshells.

Step 3: Ace the Test
Fertilize before you start planting. Use a soil testing kit to determine what your soil needs.

Step 4: Numbers Game
Use a natural, organic, well-balanced fertilizer. The bag should have all the same numbers on it, such as 5-5-5 or 10-10-10.

Items You'll Need for this GMC Trade Secret

• bagged compost
• coffee grounds, earthworm castings or eggshells
• soil testing kit
• organic, well-balanced fertilizer