After spring planting and summer blooms you may wonder what more is needed now that fall is here. The answer depends on how much easier you’d like things to be when spring comes around next year. A few careful steps now will save you effort in the long run. If you would like to reduce the amount of work facing you in the spring use these tips!
All the Tips You Need for Fall and Winter Garden Prep:
- Removing decaying yet already disease-free plants from the soil surface or burying them in garden trenches prevents pests from getting a head start come springtime. Burying old plants in your garden also adds organic matter to your soil, improving soil tilth and overall health!
- Remove invasive weeds that may have taken hold over the growing season. Removing invasive plants is the only way to prevent those plants from sprouting again and disrupting next year’s garden.
- Prepare your soil for spring. Fall is a great time to dig in soil amendments like Gypsum (breaks down clay and promotes root growth), blood and bone meal (promotes plant growth), Amazon Soil Conditioner (creates rich soil), and other soil enriching products. Adding nutrients means the additions have time to start breaking down. Also enriching your soil, and becoming biologically active just in time for you to plant.
- Replenish your mulch. Mulching in winter has many of the same benefits as summer mulching including reducing water loss, protecting the soil from erosion, and discouraging weeds. However, winter mulching has other benefits as well. As the soil transitions to colder weather, the freezing and thawing of the earth can adversely affect garden plants, whose roots suffer. Adding a thick layer of mulch to the soil surface helps regulate soil temperatures, moisture, and ease the transition into winter.
Follow these tips and your garden will be ready for an easy spring!