Over-anxious gardeners can often do more harm than good by working their soil too soon in the spring. Contrary to popular belief tilling and digging to loosen and aerate the garden soil can actually cause the the soil to become compact, much like concrete, if worked too early in the spring when the soil is too wet. To check your garden soil moisture content, scoop up a handful of soil and squeeze it into a ball. If it sticks together like modeling clay, it is too wet to be worked. Wait two or three days, if no rain has fallen and check again. The soil will be ready to be worked properly when it crumbles after being squeezed.

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