Putting Your Garden to Sleep

With the days getting shorter, and the winter wind blowing in, our thoughts invariably turn to battening down the hatches until Spring. On my winter checklist, after cutting back perennials, is laying a fresh layer of compost on beds, with an application of mulch. I have found, over the years, that applying compost and mulch on beds in the Fall is advantageous in many ways, as I will list below...


1. The cost of garden upkeep is more balanced, with mulch and compost in the Fall, new plants and Spring amendments, clean up and such in the Early Spring.
2. The mulch will last longer, only needing to be fluffed and minimally added to in the spring.
3. The temperature of beds is even during the winter with an extra layer of insulation, preventing heaves and winter mortality.
4. Plants have time to really establish themselves and start working their magic earlier in the season.

The Fall is a great time to add amendments to the soil, and leave it alone- no need to till the soil when using this method. In the Spring, you will find an invigorated garden, bursting with possibilities!