Out Around the Barn

I enjoy my garden and my flowers during the Spring and Summer months and consider myself as having a fairly decent “green thumb”.  So when the winter months come along I get a little sad.  I am still learning the ins and out of horticulture so whenever I read or hear about tips to help with your plants I take notice of them.

One tip that I have always tried to do every Spring, once the weather starts to warm and the new growth begins, I start to clear away all the dead foliage and let the air breathe.  It is almost the same in the fall; clear away all the dead foliage and run a garden rake over the ground to break the top soil.  I then add some compost, which I make, around the plants for nutrition. 

By making my own compost, I know what is in the soil and I know that my plants are healthy.  One tip is to make sure to allow air to flow through the compost for it to receive air and water so it can heat up.  You can do this by using a pitchfork to allow the soil to breathe.

I then would cover with fallen leaves and leave throughout the cold months.  I just recently discovered that I had done this step wrong.  According to  new information that I have obtained, all steps should be done as mentioned above but do not mulch until after the first freeze.  I was surprised by this so I asked questions.  I found out that by waiting to mulch after the first freeze it will actually protect the plant from serious damage and it will return year after year, we are talking of perennials here.  The reason was described to me like this; by waiting when the first frost comes the sugars and nutrients that exist in the plant above the ground will return to the root for storage, then when you do mulch it will keep the plants from freezing and protects the bulb underground until it is warm and ready to grow once again.  Also, if using leaves to mulch with; Oak or Beech are best because their leaves are stiff and will allow more air flow.  Straw and salt marsh hay is also good mulches to use.

Another tip is to trim away excess foilage with my garden pruners in early fall by doing this most plants will grow back stronger and fuller.  I do this on my Clematis and roses.  I try not to trim too short, you can always check in the Spring for dead foliage that needs removed when new growth starts.  I also trim my grapevines and my blackberries and restructure any parts of the trellis that needs repaired for the new growth.

I do mow off any remaining strawberry plants and cover them with a thick layer of straw and remove come Spring. 

These are just a few tips that I hope can help you out in your gardening endeavors.

Tags: cleaning garden, garden accessories, garden pruners, garden supplies, Garden Tools, pitchforks