To get your corn crop off to a great start, you need to prepare the soil. The first step is to turn the soil over. The second is to build up the soil by adding compost, manure, and other amendments to create a rich, fertile bed for your plants. Then you can plant. One of the most important aspects of soil preparation for planting corn is to remove weeds and plant them in the ground. If left, these weeds can quickly grow into roots and choke out the seeds of the corn. They must be removed to allow the roots of the corn to establish a strong foundation before they are able to grow. Once they have established a firm root system, it's time to put down the seed.