Time to Put the Garden to Bed

Our recent hard frost is the signal it’s time to put the vegetable garden to bed, a process which includes a complete clean up, improving the garden soil and preparing for next spring. It’s important to remember that what you don’t accomplish in the garden now, you’ll need to do in the spring, when you’re eager to start your garden, not clean it up. Garden chores done now, allow you to focus on planting in the spring, knowing that your garden beds are healthy and your soil is ready. Start with a thorough cleaning of your vegetable garden.  Leaving tomato plants, cucumber vines and other vegetable plant debris in your garden after you've finished harvesting, will provide hiding places for pests and plant diseases, giving them a head start on your garden next spring. The second reason for fall cleanup is to facilitate adding organic material to your garden bed while the soil is warm and workable. 

Healthy soil is key to your garden and a clean garden bed is the ideal time to amend your soil. Plan to add 2" to 3" of organic materials. This can be in the form of packaged organic compost, peat moss and earthworm castings that you can easily transport and work into the garden bed. Adding organic material will improve soil structure and increase microbial activity, which leads to stronger root development and improved nutrient uptake, next season. This is also a good time to apply a one-inch layer of humate, to improve crop nutrient uptake next season. Three, protect your garden soil through the winter with cover crops and mulch.  Winter rye is a good choice for a cover crop. It will survive harsh weather and can be turned over in the spring, improving soil tilth. 

Tree leaves are a good source of organic material in the fall. Shredded leaves can be broadcast over the garden, providing protection for soil structure and microbial life. Come spring, the decomposing leaves can be worked into the garden soil or added to your compost pile. Together, cover crops and organic material will build and maintain healthy, microbial-rich soil, a sure way to improve the yields in your garden.  Make fall garden clean up a part of your routine. It will set up your vegetable garden for a great start next spring.   

Now’s the time to feed your Lawn

October’s weather is bringing about a change in your lawn.  The grass isn't growing as vigorously, there's less top growth and typically, you're mowing less frequently. While top growth has slowed down, grass roots are still very active storing nutrients and moisture, getting ready for the winter season.  All this activity at the root level makes this an important time to feed your lawn. In fact, if you only fertilize once a year, now’s the time to do it. Applying a winterizer fertilizer now benefits your lawn in two ways. 

Winterizer fertilizers contain both Nitrogen and Potash, to build hardiness into grass stems and roots. By strengthening the grass root system, your lawn will be better prepared to survive the rigors of winter. Second, the slow release Nitrogen component in winterizer fertilizer will ensure there’s enough food available for a quicker green-up and stronger top growth early in the spring season. For even better results, add granular humate to your lawn before you fertilize. 

Granular humate will break down clay, improve soil structure and increase microbial activity in the soil. Humate will also help your grass take up nutrients more effectively and stay greener with less water. HuMic is an excellent source of granular humate. For best results, apply humate first, then winterizer. Water the lawn thoroughly after applying humate and winterizer. Aerating the lawn this time of year helps overcome compaction and makes it easier for the fertilizer and organic material to get down to the roots.  You can do aeration yourself or hire it done. Just make sure you get a good core extraction. Over the next few weeks, gradually lower your mower's height so that the last cutting will be about two- and one-half inches tall. 

During the winter, use a simple sprinkler to water your lawn. This will also benefit the trees and shrubs planted in or near your lawn. Winter watering is especially important where the lawn and trees are surrounded by sidewalks and streets. Do this when the temperature is above 40°F. Taking these steps now will help ensure a healthier lawn next spring.