Hi, We moved into a house in August and recently had a lot of trees removed from an overgrown/unkept area above our pool. We would like to grow some fruit trees, vegetables and other flowering trees back there at some point, but I know the soil is probably awful. We don't know that much about gardening, but I have heard that soil around pine trees makes it hard for other things to grow.. this area was completely unkept and had several large oak trees (which i felt very guilty about removing), some tall thin pine trees, and weeds. I want to grow a low maintenance fence (maybe arborvitae) and fruit trees, etc. Can someone help direct me in what steps I should take to get this soil ready? How long would it take to get the soil ready? I was thinking it would take a year.. but my father wants to plant some plum trees he's been transplanting for me immediately.

Thanks so much, we're in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Patty