Starting in March, it's time to get back to real work on the soil. After the winter, the upper layer of the soil, in particular, is compacted by snow, ice, and meltwater. The soil therefore absolutely needs to be loosened. First, remove all dead, coarse plant debris such as leaves, twigs, plant stems, etc., that has accumulated in the beds over the fall and winter. Then, get your digging fork out of its hibernation and loosen the soil; at the same time, you'll give it and the soil organisms a boost of oxygen. Finally, use a rake to break up the soil into fine, crumbly pieces.
For large, open areas, such as a vegetable garden, the soil is gently loosened and aerated with a digging fork, piece by piece and row by row, without disturbing the soil layers. In densely planted perennial beds, it's better to use a cultivator.
