To say "as [adjective/adverb] as possible," use как можно followed by a comparative adverb or adjective. Literally translating to "how it is possible," this structure is perfect for giving urgent instructions—like racing to prepare a garden before the first winter frosts (заморозки).
Pair как можно with быстрее (faster / more quickly):
| There was already frost yesterday; the trees must be pruned as quickly as possible. | Вчера уже были заморозки, надо обрезать деревья как можно быстрее. |
You can combine как можно with any comparative to emphasize exactly how an action should be done. If you are covering (укрывать) a garden to protect it from the cold, you will want to do it as tightly as possible (плотнее):
| Someone said there will be frost, so the garden needs to be covered as tightly as possible. | Кто-то сказал, что будут заморозки, поэтому укрывать сад нужно как можно плотнее. |
The same applies when maintaining tools. After using pruning shears (секатор), clean them "as well as possible" (как можно лучше):
| After finishing the work, the pruning shears must be washed as well as possible. | По окончании работы секатор надо мыть как можно лучше. |
Working in the Garden
To instruct someone to scatter fertilizer "as deeply as possible," use как можно глубже:
| This fertilizer needs to be scattered into the soil as deeply as possible. | Нужно сыпать это удобрение как можно глубже в почву. |
Failing to clean up can cause the garden to rot (гнить). To prevent this, remove leaves "as often as possible" (как можно чаще):
| To prevent the garden from starting to rot, remove the leaves as often as possible. | Чтобы сад не начал гнить, убирайте листья как можно чаще. |
Finally, use this structure to urge someone to save the garden before the plants perish (погибать):
| Save the garden as quickly as possible, otherwise the plants will start to die. | Спасайте сад как можно быстрее, а то растения начнут погибать. |