The magic answer to poor soil is organic matter. Compost, manure, wood chips and grass clippings can all be added either by layering the ingredients on top of the soil or by working the organic matter into the top few inches of soil and letting it all rot. Weeds may not be growing because the soil is so dry and the organic matter may not begin to rot and improve the soil if there is a lack of moisture. Waiting until fall when the rain returns is a good time to replenish the soil with a mulch or covering of organic matter. You can buy bags of already made compost from a local nursery or garden center and pile this on top of your soil in a layer from 2 to 4 inches deep. Let the winter rains soak it in and by spring your soil should be much improved. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti