I've had mixed luck with tilling myself—did it once pretty deep, thinking it'd help loosen things up, but after a heavy rain it just turned into a brick-like mess. Compost and mulch layering seemed to work better, at least in my yard. As for buckwheat, your neighbor's onto something; late summer worked way better for me too. Tried spring planting once and weeds laughed me outta the garden... timing really matters.
"after a heavy rain it just turned into a brick-like mess."
Haha, sounds like my first attempt at prepping soil for a rain garden—ended up with something closer to pottery clay than planting medium. Curious though, have you tried mixing in sand or gravel to improve drainage? I've found layering compost and mulch helps, but adding some coarse material can really keep things from compacting again. Timing definitely matters, but sometimes tweaking the soil composition makes all the difference...
Been there myself—my first DIY concrete pad turned into a crumbly disaster after a storm. Agree on the sand suggestion, but I'd lean more toward crushed stone or gravel for foundations...sand can sometimes shift unpredictably under load. Keep at it though, you'll get the hang of it.
Definitely agree on the crushed stone or gravel recommendation—sand can indeed be tricky, especially if moisture levels aren't consistent. I've seen sand-based foundations shift dramatically after heavy rains, causing cracks and uneven settling that can be a nightmare to correct later.
One factor that hasn't come up yet is drainage. Did you consider incorporating any drainage solutions into your foundation design? In my experience, even a well-compacted gravel base can run into issues if water isn't directed away properly. A simple French drain or even just ensuring the ground slopes away from your pad can make a significant difference in longevity.
Also, curious about the concrete mix you used. Did you go with a standard pre-mixed bag or did you mix your own proportions? Sometimes, DIYers underestimate the importance of getting the water-to-cement ratio right. Too much water weakens the concrete significantly, causing it to crumble or flake over time. On my first project, I made the mistake of adding extra water to make the concrete easier to work with... seemed fine at first, but after a few months, surface flaking and cracking started showing up everywhere.
Another small detail worth mentioning—did you reinforce your pad with rebar or wire mesh? Even smaller pads benefit greatly from some form of reinforcement. It helps distribute weight evenly and reduces cracking from temperature fluctuations or minor ground shifts.
Either way, don't be discouraged by the setbacks. Concrete work has a definite learning curve, but each project gets easier and more intuitive.
Totally feel you on the drainage point. When I did my first DIY pad, I thought I'd covered everything—gravel base, rebar, careful mixing—but completely overlooked drainage. It wasn't even a huge slope or anything, just a slight dip nearby that I didn't think twice about. Sure enough, after the first big storm, water pooled around one side, and within a year I had noticeable cracking and settling. Learned the hard way that even a subtle slope matters.
Also, your comment about the water-to-cement ratio hits home. I remember thinking "just a little extra water won't hurt," because it made the concrete easier to spread. Big mistake... ended up with surface flaking and weak spots. Next project, I stuck strictly to the recommended ratio, even though it was tougher to work with at first. The difference was night and day—no cracks, no flaking, and still solid years later.
Definitely a learning curve, but each project gets smoother. Sounds like you're already picking up some valuable lessons, so hang in there.
