DIY Network

Prep Your Garden Now for Spring

Master gardener Joe Lamp'l, host of Fresh from the Garden, explains why you should start sooner rather than later when planning the next season's garden.

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To get the best results next season and beyond for your garden, begin with steps taken now as you clean up, clear out and get ready for spring.

Now's the time to start next year's growing season

By Joe Lamp'l

Sept. 18, 2006—Fall is an exciting time to be in the garden. Yes, it is the end of the growing season, but it's also the start of next year's garden as well. And getting the best results during the coming year begins with steps taken now as we clean up, clear out and otherwise get ready for spring.

First, it helps to understand why the cleanup process is so important. Many pests and diseases will over-winter in plant debris if they're given the opportunity. Removing these habitats improves your chances of eliminating any number of future problems.

So a fall garden clean up should include the following activities:

• Cut back perennials. Cutting off the dead and spent foliage a few inches above the ground in the fall will not harm the plant.

• Remove spent annuals and seasonal vegetables. Unlike perennials, annuals do not come back from season to season, and there is no reason to leave these in the ground. Pull them up, roots and all, and add them to your compost pile.

• Remove weeds and leaf debris because they are common places for diseases and pests to survive the winter.

• Compost only the healthy material. As you remove debris from your fall cleanup projects, be sure to add only the pest-free and non-diseased plants to your compost. Destroy any diseased plant material, or remove it from you garden. Pathogens and insect pests can winter-over and return next year in a compost pile that doesn't get hot enough to finish them off.

• Take pictures and make notes. Document what was growing in your beds. This is especially helpful for perennials that will be cut back for the season. As more plants are added, having a record of what was planted and where will allow you to avoid injuring dormant perennials. Notes also are a great way to document what worked and what didn't. Gather your thoughts while the season's successes and failures are still fresh in your mind.

• Get a soil test. This is a great time to ferret out important information about your soil. Most reports include details such as pH level and nutrient analysis. Knowing this information in the fall is the ideal time to act on any deficiencies or add any amendments that may be necessary.

• Amend the soil with natural organic materials (homemade compost, manure, blood meal, bone meal, cottonseed meal, greensand, etc): Organic amendments are a great way to improve the long-term health of your soil. By adding them in the fall, they have time to break down into a form that plants can use in time for spring growth. Organic material is an easy way to achieve all the desirable qualities of healthy, productive soil in an environmentally safe way.

• Plant for next season. Fall is the best time to plant trees, shrubs, perennials, winter annuals, bulbs and cool-season vegetables. The soil is still warm, and the air is cool, so less energy is required of the plant overall. The warmer soil will allow roots to become established.

This list should get you started on practical steps you can take to having your best garden yet. If you'd like more information on putting your garden to bed and having a better garden next year, visit www.joegardener.com.

(Joe Lamp'l, a master gardener, hosts DIY's Fresh from the Garden as well as a gardening radio show. For more information, visit www.joegardener.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)

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