Preparing a garden for next year’s planting is as important as watering the flowers a person already has.
A properly prepared garden bed will reward its tender with amazing blooms and vigorous growth all season long.
Getting Started for Fall Planting
After finding just the right place for the garden, start by removing all weeds and other debris then work compost and various safe yard refuse (leaves, sticks, and woodchips) into the ground with a tiller or shovel. Add as much as possible as it will break down into good, rich ground over the winter and throughout the next year. This is the basis of any garden, starting with healthy well draining soil.
Some people cover their newly prepared gardens with black plastic to help the decomposition process along. A thick layer of newspapers and cardboard can also make useful compost for the next year as well as encouraging earthworms to move into the area. Remember though, compost needs water to break down.
Planting Fall Seeds
If a person plans to plant seeds that need to over winter in the ground, he must forgo using a topping of plastic and solid cardboard (finely shredded cardboard would be fine). After the ground has been properly weeded and tilled to the proper depth, scatter the seeds evenly over the entire area. Especially fine seeds such as poppies can be first mixed with sand and then spread about in the same manner as aforementioned. The sand helps ensure each seed gets a good start with proper spacing.
Planting a Cover Crop for Spring Tilling
Cover crops as exactly what they sound like. They cover the ground with thick vegetation for the first growing season (fall) and then they are tilled into the ground the next spring. This cover crop adds vital nutrients to the soil that flowers and vegetables need for proper growth. Cover crops can also fix nitrogen in the soil and help keep pests away. All and all they are a very good idea to utilize. Just remember to till them in very well before planting seeds.
Plants for Cover Crops
- Clover
- Vetch
- Winter Peas
Why One Should Start a Spring Garden in the Fall
Preparing a garden for spring beauty is a simple matter and with the right tools not very hard at all. When a person breaks ground in the fall for next year's garden it gives each plant a head start towards becoming a true showstopper. A little effort before weeds can get a foot hold in the fall means much less work in the spring and summer.
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