{"id":468,"date":"2022-11-30T15:02:52","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T15:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/?p=468"},"modified":"2022-11-30T15:09:39","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T15:09:39","slug":"how-to-improve-your-garden-over-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/2022\/11\/how-to-improve-your-garden-over-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"How to improve your garden over winter"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"468\" class=\"elementor elementor-468\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-247add5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"247add5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f578503\" data-id=\"f578503\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d414946 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d414946\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Q-If I'm not growing anything in my garden over winter, what should I do with it?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e2969ce elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e2969ce\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-40259ec\" data-id=\"40259ec\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21d9c7e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"21d9c7e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h4><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Tidy Up<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Winter is a great time to tidy up and get a jump start on having a great spring season. We want to first think about covering up bare soil and ask the question, &#8220;What are my goals for spring?&#8221;. Depending on your goals will determine how you care for the garden over winter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chances are you have hoses, pots, hoes, and other tools here and there in the garden. Now is a great time to make sure to bring everything inside to prevent rot, rust, or frost damage. If you have any small greenhouse structures that won&#8217;t hold heavy snow, then now is a good time to remove any plastic covers and store them away from next season.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Focus on Soil Health<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What can we do to improve our soil health over winter?<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Plan our crop rotations<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Plant cover crops<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Add compost<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mulch or tarp the garden<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Take a soil test<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ql-indent-1\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Fix calcium deficit with lime over winter<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Avoid compaction<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"ql-indent-1\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">machinery, tillage, excessive foot traffic<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To hibernate the garden like a farming pro requires lots of planning. We should be implementing crop rotations even in small gardens and avoid planting the same thing in the same spot, year after year. One way to help rest ground so that we are not always extracting is to plant cover crops.<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cover Crops<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The idea behind a cover crop is that instead of harvesting vegetables we are going to grow a mix of crops that will provide lots of biomass and let them die in their place. This is also called a winter-killed cover crop. Another type of cover crop is a late-sown cover crop of ryegrass, clover, hairy vetch and these will cover the ground for winter but then take off in growth in spring. A late-sown winter cover will make a great amount of biomass for mid-summer or fall planting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cover crops help<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Add organic matter<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Reduce compaction<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Give a root host to beneficial bacteria and fungi overwinter<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rest ground from continual extraction<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Reduce winter erosion<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Suppress weeds<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Increase biodiversity<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">&nbsp;I would recommend you try to learn where to incorporate cover crops into your gardens. They are easy to grow with little maintenance and offer great rewards for soil health and better produce. At my farm, we always try to follow cash crops with cover crops. Using a mixture of winter-killed cover crops and later sown cover crops for different goals. For example, September or October sown cover crops will produce lots of resources for our honey bees when we add something like crimson clover to the mix. Although be sure to cut down that cover crop right after pollination or you will end up with loads of seeds!&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Soil Test<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Winter is a great time to think about taking a soil test. Usually, if you want to have a more in-depth understanding of your soil, taking a soil test before you have started adding amendments, especially lime would be very helpful. Lime or gypsum tastes time for the soil to digest. If you recently added lime or gypsum then you should wait another year before taking a soil test. Or take an acid fizz test to see if you have free lime in your soil. If so this will throw off your results and it would be better to save your money and wait until there is no more free lime.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you know your soil does have a deficit of Calcium, winter is a great time to lime the garden.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h6><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Why does my garden need calcium or lime?<\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There are lots of factors that may influence why soil has a calcium deficit in acidic soil. One reason that is often overlooked is the proper ratio of magnesium to calcium. While you may benefit from adding compost if you are dealing with heavily eroded soil. Often gardens could benefit more from understanding how and when to amend your soils. For example, having better Magnesium to Calcium ratios results in better tilth, and aeration allowing soils to utilize the free nitrogen present in the air!&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h6><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Other reasons my garden could benefit from an in-depth soil test.<\/span><\/h6>\n<ol>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Gardens may even present an excess of magnesium due to constant irrigation and the solution is either cut down on irrigation or add gypsum.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Excessive potassium from fertilizers is another culprit of an underperforming garden.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lack or excess of micronutrients including zinc, manganese, copper, and boron.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">There are so many complexities to soil balancing that unless you have hours and hours to study the topic finding an expert to talk to may be worth the time.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h5><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Compost<\/span><\/h5>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">High-quality compost is always a great addition to a garden. Compost is a mix of organic matter or biomass dead and living massed together. Through time and aeration natural or manual compost becomes a microbe-rich powerhouse that will act almost like a mulch in the same way wood chips or mulch works with landscaping.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h6><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The Honest Truth<\/span><\/h6>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Compost may have its benefits in the garden but you normally cannot rely solely on compost for growth. You would need a minimum of 3% Nitrogen to rely solely on compost and normally your homemade compost and even bought compost do not have sufficient Nitrogen levels. There are some compost nerds out that make compost so that you can grow high-quality vegetables without any extra inputs. Make sure you do your research when buying compost and ask them what percent of Nitrogen can they guarantee at delivery or in the bag.&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">At the end of the day, we are extracting a lot of nutrients from our soils by producing vegetables and this requires that we add back organic materials to make up for that deficiency.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-64bd864 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"64bd864\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-429d64f\" data-id=\"429d64f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5c97155 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5c97155\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mulch\/Tarp<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9c10804 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9c10804\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bb27ad2\" data-id=\"bb27ad2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a67406d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a67406d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mulching or tarping gardens may help a garden in many aspects.<\/span><\/p><ul><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Reduce erosion<\/span><ul><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If our garden is bare going into winter soil will begin to erode without any intact organic materials to stop or slow down heavy rains.\u00a0<\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Reduce compaction from heavy rains.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5c7b9cf\" data-id=\"5c7b9cf\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05dc45f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"05dc45f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 08-05-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/firstbedsofspring-1-768x1024.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-478\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/firstbedsofspring-1-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/firstbedsofspring-1-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/firstbedsofspring-1-1152x1536.jpeg 1152w, https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/firstbedsofspring-1-1536x2048.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/firstbedsofspring-1-scaled.jpeg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-46c1d89 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"46c1d89\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-642a46e\" data-id=\"642a46e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06807f5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"06807f5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Allow for quicker bed preparation in spring<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Improve tilth<\/span><ul><li>Having the ground covered, especially with a dark material will heat up on those sunny days of winter. This will encourage the decomposition of organic matter and form a great environment for bacteria and fungi to keep feeding.<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Avoid over-saturated soils. This means quick bed prep on a sunny day in spring<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-742f34f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"742f34f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a819fba\" data-id=\"a819fba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79592d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"79592d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Keep Growing with frost blankets<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Just because we have frost in the forecast doesn&#8217;t mean the end of gardening. We can\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/2022\/11\/elementor-144\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">garden year-round using frost covers<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0depending on how cold of a winter you get.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h4><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Plan for next year<\/span><\/h4><p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Winter is an ideal time to plan out your garden for next year. Ask yourself, &#8220;Where did I fail this year and what can I do better next year?&#8221;. Gardening and farming are lifelong learning processes. You get another shot at it every year. Some list items to consider include:<\/span><\/p><ol><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Order seeds<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Organize systems so that your garden can continue without your care. If you want to go on vacation is my garden maintenance easy enough that I can dictate my tasks to a farm sitter?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Plan out crop rotations<\/span><\/li><\/ol><ul><li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><ul><li class=\"ql-indent-1\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Microsoft Excel is a great tool to keep track of crop rotations.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><ol><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Order tools or equipment<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Sharpen hoes and knives<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Create a planting calendar so you don&#8217;t forget to start your tomatoes etc.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Research new information and learn more about your favorite aspects of gardening.<\/span><\/li><li><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Create structure and clean up those eye sores because we know you won&#8217;t have time when it all starts again in spring!<\/span><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Q-If I&#8217;m not growing anything in my garden over winter, what should I do with it? Tidy Up Winter is a great time to tidy up and get a jump start on having a great spring season. We want to first think about covering up bare soil and ask the question, &#8220;What are my goals [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1,35,30,13],"tags":[102,100,106,98,101,99,104,59,97,103,105,94,89,95],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to improve your garden over winter - thefarmersguide.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thefarmersguide.com\/2022\/11\/how-to-improve-your-garden-over-winter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to improve your garden over winter - thefarmersguide.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Q-If I&#8217;m not growing anything in my garden over winter, what should I do with it? Tidy Up Winter is a great time to tidy up and get a jump start on having a great spring season. 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