5 Simple Ways to Close Down Your Vegetable Garden
As the vibrant colors of autumn fade and the chill of winter sets in, it's time to prepare your vegetable garden for the colder months ahead. While many conventional methods involve chemical treatments and plastic coverings, there are plenty of natural and eco-friendly ways to winterize your garden while also involving your children in the process.
Natural Garden Prep:
01. Compost Boost: This is option but I like to ad to a few beds that had 3 rotation of crops in it. Compost adds essential nutrients to the soil, enhances its structure, and promotes healthy plant growth come Spring. This also allows your compost to “cook” before the spring time. It also acts as a mulch for the winter if you aren’t planting cover crops or adding leaves or straw.
02. Mulching Magic: Mulching is an effective way to protect your garden soil from freezing temperatures and retain moisture during the winter. It’s good practice not to let your soil sit exposed over the winter as the microbes also need protection. Use organic materials such as seedless straw, leaves or compost.
03. Cover Crop Love: Consider planting cover crops like clover or winter rye to protect and enrich your garden soil during the winter months. These crops help prevent erosion, suppress weeds, and add organic matter to the soil when they decompose. It’s also food for your microbes in the soil!
04. Cut Larger Plants instead of Removing Them: You can do this for tomatoes, beans or even squash. Don’t pull the whole plant out after it’s done, instead cut at the base an inch above the soil, remove the stem and leaves but allow the roots to decompose over the winter in the ground. Again, food for the microbes that make your soil healthy come spring. You’ll be surprised how much is “not” left in the spring time.
* Note: If your plant has diseases on it, please remove and do not add to your compost.
05. Clean your Garden Tools: Don’t overlook this step as we want to ensure our tools and gadgets last as long as possible. Wash your tools with soap and water, protect wood with natural oils or wash your garden gloves after your final garden tasks before the snow comes. Come spring, it’s the best feeling when your tools are clean and ready to go.
We love focusing on natural methods to protect our soil and garden over the winter. I do want to remind you to leave a lot of your perennial herbs and flowers as is. This will be great food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects over the winter. I often leave roots in the ground for annual flowers too like zinnias + cosmos. I hope all of these tips are helpful. Now time to rest our bodies and have fun dreaming of next years garden.
