Putting the Garden to Bed–Wild Ones Style
The best time to get ready for next year is now.
1.Get rid of any invasives.
2.As you remove some of these plants, you might bring up hibernating insects like ladybugs and spiders. Tuck them back in the best you can, so they can do their good work next year.
3. Put some leaves around your plants. Skip mechanically shredding leaves because whole leaves are a better food source for soil organisms. Animal shredders like sowbugs and earthworms do the work of breaking large pieces up. Fungi decompose the woodier bits, which is good because you want to feed your fungi. Fungi form a symbiotic relationship with your plants; they deliver nutrients, water, and even pathogen protection to the plants’ roots while the plant delivers carbohydrates to the fungi. Shredded leaves are eaten up by bacteria very quickly, which means shredders and fungi don’t get a food source. All of the plant material will add organic matter, helping the soil percolate water and hold onto it. The more organic matter, the better the water holding capacity.
4.If you need to clip any plant stems, try to keep stems in the garden or in a brush pile where any unnoticed animals may be able to overwinter successfully. See this article for more information: Heather Holm on bee-friendly garden clean-up.
That’s it! Have fun and enjoy this special time.
–Stephanie