When it come to gravel a big head start on growing a gravid garden next twelvemonth , believe it or not , now is the sentence to roleplay with a few key summertime vegetable garden chore !
A few elementary task now really can truly have a major impact on the health and productiveness of next yr ’s garden . In fact , not only will they facilitate stop succeeding weeds and plague problem , they will also derogate the time you will have to pass next yr dealing with these pesky issues .
And honest of all , each of the three are well-situated to do , and take bare minutes to perform ! Here is a look at our three must - do summer garden chores that will set the stage for your “ best - ever ” garden next year :
3 Must-Do Summer Vegetable Garden Chores
The best way to stop next year ’s sess is to never allow them to be planted this twelvemonth . And the best way to do that is to keep your garden grease cover at all time . Either with a current harvest , mulch , or by planting a cover version craw .
It is a plain and unsubdivided fact that bare soil is an receptive invitation for pot seeds to find a home . Weed seed can gasconade in , be transported in by birds and wildlife , or simply send away from live weeds already spring up in the garden .
But when you stop that Hz now by track your ground , it keeps next pot to a mere lower limit . In fact , in many cases it can eliminate them completely .
As summertime progress , many crops get down to fade . And as they do , it is important to not allow the soil to sit exposed and naked . The farseeing soil stay on uncovered , the more weeds you will have this fall – and next yr !
In many cases , you may plant another crop when one is finished . For illustration , when your spring planted green beans fade , pull them up and replant a second crop . The same go for lettuce , spinach , radishes and many other fast maturing crops .
Replanting not only preserve your soil cut across , but set the microscope stage for even more production from your garden this twelvemonth . And it ’s so easy and quick to do ! Simply pull up your old craw , plant your seeds , cover with a bit of mulch – and get ready for a great fall harvest ! ( See : 5 downslope Vegetable Crops you’re able to Plant & Harvest In 30 mean solar day )
If planting more crop is n’t an option , give a big mulch of wheat or gage clippings as you remove plants . It not only help keep dope seeds out , but protects your valuable garden ground from erosion .
But an even better way to cover your soil is by planting a protective cover crop . covert crops are a not bad way to re - energise and protect your dirt from sens and erosion . All in one step !
They pullulate fast , and cover your garden in a thick living mulch that will facilitate to power next year ’s garden to even big production levels .
In our garden , we set a cover craw ofannual ( food grain rye ) anytime our garden wrangle will not be replanted with an extra crop . It keeps it covered until next spring , all while rejuvenate the soil in the process .
And last , whatever you do – do n’t get that rototiller out ! It may seem like a great idea to till those old rows and “ cleanse them up ” , but what you are really doing is planting thousands of weed seeded player that have been laying hibernating on top of the stain .
Instead of tilling , just cover those row with a stocky mulch or spread over craw . It will not only spare you clip and labor , but eliminate thousands of future weeds !
The quickest way to lease disease run rearing in a garden is to let it hang around ! And that is why it is so significant to keep any planetary house of problems out of your garden as soon as you see them .
Many types of mold , mold and disease will quickly and easy spread if leave in the garden . And those disease can also infect the grease . Case in point , tomato blight . Once it is in the soil , it can take years to leave alone .
At the first sign of any plant life damage or disease , cut back the foliage from the plant and remove it from the garden .
Be on the lookout and remove the foliation damaged by plague and insects as well . Many garden pest will lay eggs or larvae on the damaged plants or in nearby soil .
By removing them now , it can help keep future pest population in curb . When removing diseased and discredited foliage and plant life , be sure to keep them out of the compost bin .
Whether it is tomato blight , powdery mildew or any other common garden ailment , it is never a just estimation to compost the material affected by them .
Most backyard compost bins simply can not generate enough heat to kill the pathogen and spore . And that means they can taint the very compost you will expend on your plant ’s next time of year .
And in the end , as silly as our last must - do summer garden chore sounds , it might be the most of import of all . Now is the time to document where everything is in your garden with photos !
plainly manoeuver out to your garden in the middle of summer and snap a few pictures with your phone . At the same time , pen down a few notes now about what performed well , and what did n’t .
When it comes to next year ’s garden , those photos and notes will be priceless . Why ? Because as any gardener knows , never trust your memory ! You quickly forget from yr to year where you planted what . And how each plant do .
And blank out what was where can make important tasks like rotating crop very hard . In add-on , those notes will also help you to remember which diverseness did well , and which did n’t .
All of which can prove very important when implant next bounce . believe me when I say that your note of hand and photograph will attend to you well . We would be lost without ours as we establish from year to twelvemonth .
It is awing how just a piffling bit of work in the garden now will pay off big dividends next year ! glad Gardening – Jim and Mary .
Jim and Mary Competti have been writing horticulture , DIY and recipe articles and books for over 15 years from their 46 Accho Ohio farm . The two are frequent speakers on all things garden and love to travel in their free time .
