[iamarcin]

What do I add to soil to soften it up.

I live in Long islan ny and when diging trenches for sprinklers I noticed that below a foot deep my soil is almost rock hard and has a lot of round rocks. I know for a fact that the area was a forest not more than 2 years ago because Google maps overhead photo shows that there were threes there no house. We bought the house new. Its right across from a park where I can get good topsoil and mulch for free but hoping for an easier method.

The back yard also has very little grass growth because of all the trees which I am cuting down in my spare time. During heavy rains there is a lot of water there. I just airated the whole property but didn't know I should power reake which ill do before winter and next year. But this only handles the top 1 foot or so I think I have to go deaper so that the nutrients get there because the soil is yellow bad and I would like to plant better things in key areas. Or eaven drain it so I can have raised planter beds that won't rot from flooding.

The property next to me is a ditch that is supposed to alow the water to drain there but does not work much since it is always dry and my backyard isn't.

Thank you.