Properly cared for, all seasons are best for your garden. No, I am suggesting that your garden will grow during the fall and winter, that would be crazy. I am saying that there are ways to help your garden perform at its absolute best, to be its healthiest and that your garden should have at least some attention the entire year round.
Starting at the end of the growing season, your garden should be readied for its long sleep through the winter. This is when the soil recovers its nutrients that were used by plants, or lost to evaporation. This is also when the beneficial earthworms burrow down deep enough to keep from freezing. Remove all withered and spent plants, possibly tilling them under with other yard wastes. ( Not lawn or yard clippings however, as this increases the risk of weed growth.) Consider mulching the entire garden surface to a depth of two to three inches to serve as insulation. In some zones, potatoes and other root plants can be planted in late summer and early fall, but check with your local extension agent for advice.
During the winter months, plants that are unfazed by weather are the stars. English ivy which will grow almost without fail is a great plant, but should not be used in gardens that will be used for vegetables in the spring. Once the ivy gets started, it takes over and is nearly impossible to get rid of . In its proper place though, the English ivy can be breathtaking with its dark green, glossy leaves set against the dull gray of the winter sky and the silvery white of snow. Give it something to grow on and it becomes more than just a plant; it is transformed into a living sculpture. Winter can be the time to let your statuary or lighting effects really shine as they become the main focus rather than mere accessories.
Before spring begins, make sure that you have made your plant selections and begin the ordering process so that plants and seeds will arrive at the proper time for your planting zone. Till the soil up and adjust the nutrients as needed. Take a soil sample to the extension office for analysis or use a do it yourself kit from the garden center. Once it is time to start putting the plants out, follow the guidelines for depth and for spacing and then water each new plant gently. Now is the time to prevent weeds from getting started- prevention is easier than trying to get rid of them.
The summer month is when the garden will really work its hardest- the plants are growing strong root systems and beginning to fruit. Now is the time for careful vigilance to keep the deadly weeds and pests from getting to your tender plants. Also, monitor your garden's watering needs to prevent dehydration. Weed your plants often, a weed will steal nutrients and choke out a root system leaving a plant compromised.
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