Question
Hi there!  I am in my second year of gardening.  I'm afraid that I did all of the wrong things to prepare the soil for my garden.  I just started planting.  I have a lot of grass growing in the plot (along with weeds I keep up with).  

We have gotten a ton of rain lately.  I want to be preventative now so that the rest of my garden keeps growing (I had a lot of seed rot-I replanted).  Also, how do I till in fertilizer if the plants are already in the ground?  Do I just lay it on top, or till it in aroung the plants.  I know these sound like dumb questions, but I'm just beginning:)  Thanks!  Crys

Answer
Dear Crys,
These do not sound like dumb questions.  I've been gardening for years and I'm struggling through with excess rain and a tilling issue, myself.  I tilled last fall, but was unable to till this spring and I've got tons of grass growing, as well as trying to keep up with the well watered weeds.  Get rid of as much grass as you can either through tilling between the rows and the hoe as near to the plant as you can without damaging the stems or roots.  As far as fertilizer, I use manure, so I do add it on top and let it soak in as it rains.  Get rid of as much grass as you can, though, because the fertilizer will strengthen the grass as well as the plants.  After you till and hoe the grass, and add the fertilizer, you could till it in if you choose.
I wish you much success.  This is a difficult gardening year.
Kind Regards,
Kindred
www.eingedi.us