Planting My First Garden

[shilala]

Originally Posted by OHRD

So, how should I pack the dirt? Hard with a shovel or loose like I just flung it on there? I mean, it'll have to be packed around the actual root of the plant where I dig in at, but what about the rest?

You want it loose as a goose, brother. Loose so it'll drain and loose so it's got air. Just throw it in and rake the top. It'll settle to where it wants to be.
When you plant your plants, you don't "pack" them in, all you want to do is lightly tighten the soil around them, just enough for them to stand up.
If you can get the soil so loose that when you step in it you sink up to your knees, that'd be perfect. You can't do it, but that's what you're shooting for.