Seasonal Chores & Preparing for Winter

Even though it's a little too early for winter (we think), it is a very good idea to plan ahead and keep supplies handy because the frost is always upon us before we think it will happen.  Always keep burlap bags, ties, ropes, plastic covers, and plenty of mulch handy, and then you will never be caught off guard.

Spring

Sometimes the rain just keeps coming and the weeds grow faster during that time.  When it does settle down, and your garden is less than soupy feeling, then you can get outside and begin pulling those winter weeds and grasses, and start mulching.  There are different ways of mulching, and we are going to cover those methods.

First of all, there is an easy way to keep weeds down for two years.  I have tried this, and it works.  First of all, spray the weeds with Round-up™ or similiar weed killer, or cover them with black plastic for a couple of weeks.  When the weeds are dead, or dug up (if you prefer), then put down several layers of newspaper to cover the entire area around your junipers, large bushes, or tree roses, etc.  Then spray the newspaper with water to keep it down.  Take humus or a mixture of humus and wood chips, and cover it thickly on top of the newspaper.  It will help recycle the newspaper and keep the weeds down at the same time. 

Another method of mulching is to put the finer humus down a couple of inches over the de-weeded area, and then the heavier woodchips on top of that.  It will keep the weeds down tremendously for at least one growing season by this method.

Mulching keeps weeding to a minimum, and it shows off the plants.