This past week of heavy wind, rain and cooler temperatures has certainly been a reminder that summer is now long gone, and fall has most definitely arrived! If your garden was like mine, you witnessed a quick transformation from what was a very lush and productive harvesting bed of fruits and vegetables, to what now resembles a depleted, exhausted and unsightly mess that needs tending to. But it doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it may seem. By following these few simple steps, you can put your edible garden to bed for the winter, and at the same time have a head start toward an enjoyable and hopefully more carefree springtime planting.
1. Clean up. It is important to collect and remove all remaining fruits and vegetables, as well as leaves and other debris from planting areas. This is an ideal environment for insect eggs and disease spores to linger during the winter months and in turn may cause unwanted problems later on.
2. Prune using the 3 D’s. Prune and discard all diseased, dead and dying branches. This not only creates a more desirable appearance, but also helps promote health and vigor of the plant.
3. Plant fall and winter crops. Planting a succession garden is a fun way to keep your garden active and growing all year around. What an easy way to introduce new varieties of food into your garden and incorporate them into your family meals! Succession planting is done by replacing spent plants with new and different varieties that meet upcoming weather conditions. There are numerous cool weather crops to choose from, including kale, arugula, spinach, rhubarb, broccoli and onions.
4. Cover crop. If you do not garden during the cold months, planting a cover crop such as crimson clover, fall rye or fava beans is a great way to add organic material and nutrients back into your soil.
5. Compost beds. Incorporating compost around your plants is a great way to provide a slow release of nutrients over the next few months, especially when the heavy winter rains leach out the soil. This is particularly beneficial for both clay and sandy environments.
6. Mulch. Collect your fallen tree leaves and apply a thick layer as mulch on top of your garden beds. This not only helps keep weeds at bay, but also acts as insulation and offers extra protection for the plants roots and vascular system during freezing temperatures. If using leaves such as maple that are quite large, run over them with your lawn mower to help break them down. When spring arrives, simply till them into the soil. This is another great way to incorporate more organic matter and its nutrients into your garden beds.
7. Slugs! Now is an ideal time to deal with slugs. There are many methods of trapping and numerous baits to choose from. Whichever one you select, make sure to read the label and use wisely so not to harm birds and other vulnerable creatures.
Whether you are a fair weather gardener, or you enjoy getting your hands dirty all year around, take a little time now to winterize your garden. You and your plants will be thankful you did come springtime!
