Compacted Soil

[novice grower]

Checked my plants tonight and noticed that the soil was realy hard looking,tried to jam my finger in,but met more resistance than what i think i should have,SO,i got the garden fork,the hand things with the 3 prongs,and give them a bit of adig around.

I watered straight after and niticed that it seemed to absorb more,less water drained out.

Two questions: 1. Did i do the right thing ?

2. Do any other growers do this to their plants ?

 

Ok,i also found these tiny 4mm long "fly" looking things. I am fairly sure that they have incubated in either the potting mix,processed cow manure or the processed chook shit.

When i do my nightly/daily checks i hit them with a natural pyrethrum spray and alternate with a home-made mix of diced and sieved garlic,chilli and a coupla drops of Morning Fresh,this is working,kills them.

What i done this evening was got a coupla oranges and cut them in half,soaked them with the Pyrethrum spray and left them in the chamber,hopefully this will work as a natural "bait" and the smell of the oranges will help mask the dope smell.

 

Once again if i have done the right thing or should i get rid of the oranges ?

Any info regarding any of the abovementioned problems will be appreciated.

 

Cheers.