Mariyah’s Garden Tips: Fall is For Preparation
Fall is for preparation! Here are three ways to prepare your garden for a successful growing season.
Plant Cover Crops to Support Soil Health
Cover crops are crops that are planted to support soil health because they contribute specific nutrients to the soil. Soil health is the foundation of successful land stewardship.
Cover crops like winter rye or clover protect your soil and are easy to plant! Simply scatter the seeds and cover them lightly with soil.
Seed Saving
Fall is an excellent time to save seeds from your favorite plants. Allow some of your plants to go to seed, then collect, dry, and store the seeds for next year’s planting.
Leave the Leaves
The leaves that fall from trees in your garden serve as nature’s mulch. Layering leaves along with mulch and straw helps to retain soil moisture, moderate soil temperature, and inhibit weed growth. This organic mulch also enriches the soil as it breaks down over time, adding nutrients for your plants to absorb. This year, instead of bagging your leaves, apply a layer of leaf mulch around plants in your garden or just leave the leaves where they fall!
Xavier, Garden Manager in the Washington Youth Garden, lays on a bed of cover crop.
A student spreads straw mulch in a garden bed.
A garden bed covered in straw mulch for the winter.
