Cultivation is manually working the soil by digging and turning. It is important to cultivate soils to prepare even beds for seedlings and to remove weeds. However, it can damage soil structure, plant roots, and communities of beneficial soil organisms. Do not work soils if they are too wet or too dry because you will do more damage than good. Also avoid working around wet plants to prevent spreading disease. Cultivation techniques include mulching and double-digging.
Cultivation
Posted in: Gardening Glossary