I'm ready to rotovate my rear garden and then cover it with approximately four inches of topsoil. My soil is quite heavy. Would it be advisable to cover the whole area first with compost?
As long as the manure is well-rotted, it never hurts to add manure to the soil anywhere you will be growing plants. It will help condition the soil and will also add valuable nutrients.
How do I raise the pH level in dirt? Using a pH tester, I had a pH level between 6. 5 and 7. 0. Now the pH tester shows the level at 5 or lower. What do I use to raise the pH level back to where it was, and how do I raise the fertility of the dirt using the pH tester?
Here are some articles that will help you:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/lower-acid-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/vegetable-garden-soil.htm
Fertility normally refers to macronutrients in the soil. A good all round chemical fertilizer will be a 10-10-10 or 20-20-20 fertilizer. From an organic perspective, adding organic material such as compost and rotted manure will help. This article has more information:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/vgen/vegetable-garden-soil.htm
What is best (and easiest) method for tilling the soil of a small vegetable garden?
This is usually dependent on the are being tilled and the gardener's personal preference. However, many people opt for hand tilling for small garden plots, especially in raised beds. These articles should help with your decision: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-till-a-garden-tilling-your-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/double-digging-soil.htm
I live in an area heavily wooded, with about 1" of top soil over solid rock. To garden I must use 12" square, 12 inch deep plastic pots. What kind of dirt do I use in these pots. Commercial stuff is available but has different names - potting soil, planting soil, gardening soil, etc. What is best for my use???
You need a potting soil for containers. It will not compact and will keep the plants roots healthy.
I live in Kansas City, MO and was wondering if I should till my 3-year-old vegetable garden or not. I did last year and we kinda let the garden go after it got overcome with weeds.
It will not hurt to till your garden each year. In fact, it would do the garden some good. For weeds, you may want to practice better maintenance habits or consider using a weed barrier, such as mulch. This article should help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-till-a-garden-tilling-your-soil.htm
When you purchase bed building soil or garden building soil, what is the typical pH in these soils?
When and how soon in spring should one rototill the garden?
You can till when the soil is relatively dry and has warmed some. This article will help you determine when that is for your area:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-till-a-garden-tilling-your-soil.htm