Many of us just let the garden go to weeds once the growing season ends. Then we clean it all out in the spring, and start anew. But did you know it’s beneficial for the garden to get an end-of-season cleaning? It’s true. And here are a few tips that will get you started.
Clean out the Garden Beds
Clean all the debris, the plants, the weeds—everything— from the beds. Leftover plants that are allowed to die and rot could put certain disease in your soil—and no one want disease in their soil. Also, any plants that you remove which are still alive and growing, you can add them to your compost pile (assuming you have one—if you don’t, check back through the articles on this site to find the information you need to make one!).
Add Nutrients to the Soil
It’s important to add nutrients like compost to your soil. It will only benefit the beds in the spring. Also, any nutrients added now, will ensure you can plant immediately come the spring. Add one-to-two inches of the compost. Also, when you have prepared the beds, and added the compost, you should add a mulch to protect the soil. However, you don’t want to add so much mulch that the soil beneath it doesn’t freeze. When the ground freezes, certain pests and diseases living in the soil are killed off. When the leaves fall from the trees, bag them up—or add them to your composter—as leaf litter makes an excellent mulch for garden beds. Leaves help a garden to retain moisture, they help to suppress pests like weeds, and they also encourage the development of beneficial organisms with your soil.
Luckily for you, Fall Gardener, that Rocky Mountain Compost is ready to assist with your fall gardening needs. Call today to hear about soil mixes, types of compost and mulch. Remember the old adage that your best garden is the one you’re going to plant next year. Have a terrific Fall season!
