Winter Preparation - Building Good Soil

I was first introduced to Winter garden planning

By reading Martha Stewart’s Gardening – Month by Month.

I devoured her delicious book chapter by chapter, page by page.

In one section Martha is pictured seated in a lovely wing chair

next to a roaring fire. A lovely cup of tea is by her side as well

as neatly stacked garden catalogues and books. In her lap is one

opened. On another page is graph paper with various color

markers – a plan for an herb garden is drawn out.

As I read these wonderful chapters – gazed over the gorgeous flowers and plants,

I wondered what could I do in my garden.

Each year, I survey those darlings that come back each spring, summer and fall.

I make note of those who are not loving their spot in the garden and note

Those who are loving it too much.

It is a wonderful and ever changing relationship.

I have learned, the best place to start is creating good dirt – to produce the best

yields in vegetable gardens and to encourage healthy flowers and bushes.

One recipe I turn to over and over again includes

Compost – at least 3 inches when first preparing soil

Fish Meal – a wonderful organic source of Nitrogen

Some key strokes are important when amending soil

* Use a digging fork to break up the soil. Thrust it in as deeply

as you can rocking the handle back and forth to loosen the soil

*Use a cultivator to break up clumps – a Japanese cultivator works

marvelously or a four-tine cultivator.

* Add the Organic Matter – compost – this encourages microorganisms to

grow in your soil – which convert the manure/compost and fertilizers into

food for the plants.

* Chop in the organic fertilizer – source of Nitrogen – remember

for long-term results – feed the soil – not the plant.

As I have shared earlier – I am expecting some new roses

to add to my garden. Roses require a more acidic soil (ground limestone is a good source)

 than some other plants, also too much nitrogen is not conducive to good growth. Roses also benefit from bone meal and blood meal. The more Phosporus in a chosen fertilizer leads to

better blooms.

I am sharing this post with these Delightsome blog parties:

Tuesday Garden Party

Outdoor Wednesday

Fertilizer Friday

Cottage Flora Thursday

Wishing you a very Delightsome, garden-dreamy day,

Kathy

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What To Do Wednesday - Compost Compost Compost

With the summer heat lingering on and on and on (yep, about 2 more weeks so suck it up), planting isn't the best thing to be doing in the garden right now.  So what, then?

(sifted compost - from chunky to fine)

Compost!  If you haven't started composting already, summer time is the best to try it.  Composting is an organic chemical process where nitrogen and carbon react and generate heat. This is bazillions of tiny micro-organisms at work.

(compost pile - lawn clippings, kitchen scraps, shredded papers)

Composting is a great way to go green and manage waste around the house.  Lawn clippings, shrub trimmings, and tree leaves are the basis of a great compost pile.  But did you know there are loads of other things you put into your compost instead of into the garbage can?  Kitchen scraps, paper towels, shredded documents, dryer lint, pet hair, old flower bouquets, even old cotton clothing.
(click here to see the super-duper list of things you can compost)

 (compost storage - ready to use)

When my compost is 'good enough', I store it in old nursery cans.  This way I always have it at the ready to go into the garden.

(compost used in edible garden beds)

Whether I need to add more mulch around plants or amend planting beds, compost is the perfect blend of soil nutrients without having to measure or worry about over-fertilizing.  With my finely sifted compost, I can even use it as a potting soil.  

(fine compost used as potting soil for starting new tomato seedlings)

So do something nice for your garden, your plants, and your earth, and compost.

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It's Earth Day - Reduce, Reuse, Return

Today is Earth Day. Lots of events and activities will involve being green and recycling and carbon footprints and saving the environment, yadda yadda. But let's focus to the real star - Earth.

Look down. (Well, go outside and look down.) Look at the earth, the ground, the dirt, the soil. What can you really do for the earth TODAY.


Real simple - give back. It's a good time to simply start a compost pile. Even better (and simpler), leave your garden alone and let nature compost. Allow your garden - the earth - the feed and replenish itself. Composting (decomposition) is a natural process that is always happening underfoot. Where the mulch meets the soil, in-between, the bugs and microorganisms are hard at work composting.


When we contribute to the process by adding more layers of mulch - or leaving the leaves where they lay - the earth is enriched with nutrient life. In the end, the earth will return the favor and give to us.


For more cool inspiration about good ol' terra firma, check out what's airing on PBS. Now go let your toes hug some dirt.

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