When planning your garden, consider drawing a map to scale using graph paper to be sure you have enough space for your plants. See The Vegetable Garden to learn more on garden mapping, as well as about space requirements for many common vegetables. Adding compost can improve the structure and fertility of most garden soils. How do I prepare my garden soil? Ideally, start preparing your garden site the year before planting. Remove any existing vegetation from your garden site (particularly grass). You do not want this to grow back in your garden later. A sod cutter (available to rent in most locations) can be useful for removing grass. Alternatively, if the garden area is small enough, you can remove grass by hand using a shovel. Be sure to collect any excess soil from the dug sod and return it to your garden. After removing whatever vegetation you can, cover the area with cardboard, a tarp or black plastic to smother out any remaining vegetation that you have not been able to remove. Once your garden area has been cleared of vegetation, add compost to improve the overall soil structure. Compost helps sandy soils hold more moisture and nutrients, and it makes clay soils lighter and better drained. Compost also adds trace nutrients needed by plants. Work a two to three inch layer of compost into the soil with a rototiller or shovel at least a month prior to planting. Smooth the surface so that you are ready to plant when the weather is appropriate.