Beautiful fall colors will soon paint the trees and crisp air will begin to whisper. We tend to think of landscaping as a task done mostly in the spring when plants are bursting to life. Just because the gardening season is winding down doesn’t mean you should jump on the couch just yet. Now is the time to look after your soil and improve it for next year.
As you remove you’re used up crops from the garden, make sure to loosen the soil and mix in a 3 to 4 inch layer of compost. While soil temperatures are still warm, the nutrients and organic matter in the compost will stimulate microbes and other beneficial organisms. When spring rolls around the soil will be refreshed and renewed.
Flower gardens also need compost. When the time comes to clean up your perennial beds, keep a good supply of compost soil on hand. Dig in some compost wherever you’ve pulled out annuals and if you’re planting bulbs. You’ll need a good 2 to 3 inch layer around the base of established perennials and shrubs. Keep it back and inch or so from the stems. If you’re planting new shrubs, trees or other landscaping plants shovel in some compost with the soil in the planting hole.
Improving the soil in your garden makes a huge difference in its ability to retain water, support healthy plant growth, and help your plants fend off diseases, pests and other stresses. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned pro or not, making sure your garden gets a healthy dose of compost soil will solidify your gardening success. We can help you figure out how much you’ll need and which kind would work best.
Once all the leaves have finally fallen and the snow starts to fly you know your soil will be happy and ready to grow in the spring!