#mulching

As the days are getting colder and colder, and it is frequently freezing at night, Wintering The Garden becomes essential, if you want to see it beautifully abloom come Spring. Now is the ideal time to feed and enrich your soil, too; next year's harvest will reward your efforts!

Leaf Mould 

Lasagna Garden (Update One) (Update Two) (Update Three) (Update Four)

Wintering Camellias 

Mulching 

Wintering Geraniums 

Pruning Fruit Trees 

Pruning Hydrangeas 

Welcome to the delightful world of gardening, where the symphony of nature and the thrill of nurturing your own green haven awaits. If you're a gardening novice, fear not! This guide is tailored just for you. Whether you're cultivating a windowsill herb garden or transforming your backyard into a botanical paradise, these tips will set you on the path to success.

Start Small, Dream Big: As a beginner, resist the temptation to turn your entire yard into a lush Eden. Begin with a small plot or even containers for your favorite plants. This allows you to learn the basics without feeling overwhelmed.

Know Your Zone: Familiarize yourself with your USDA hardiness zone. This information is crucial for selecting plants that will thrive in your specific climate. Understanding your zone helps you make informed choices and increases the likelihood of a flourishing garden.

Sunshine and Shade: Different plants have different light requirements. Pay attention to the sunlight patterns in your garden and choose plants accordingly. Sun-loving plants like tomatoes and peppers need at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, while shade-loving varieties such as hostas and ferns thrive in filtered or dappled sunlight.

Soil: The Foundation of Success: Healthy soil is the secret behind a thriving garden. Invest in quality soil that suits your plant's needs. Most plants prefer well-draining soil, so be sure to amend your soil with compost to enhance its structure and fertility.

Water Wisely: The age-old adage "more is not always better" holds true for watering. Overwatering can be as harmful as underwatering. Research the water requirements of your plants, and water consistently. Consider using a drip irrigation system for efficient and controlled watering.

Choose the Right Tools: Equip yourself with the essential gardening tools. A durable pair of gloves, a trowel, pruners, and a watering can are must-haves. Quality tools not only make gardening more enjoyable but also contribute to better results.

Companion Planting: Take advantage of companion planting to maximize space and enhance growth. Some plants complement each other, deterring pests or providing mutual support. For example, planting basil near tomatoes can improve tomato flavor and protect against certain pests.

Pest Management: Be vigilant about pests, as they can quickly wreak havoc on your garden. Familiarize yourself with common garden pests in your area and adopt natural pest control methods, such as introducing beneficial insects or using neem oil.

Embrace Trial and Error: Gardening is a journey of discovery. Not every plant will thrive, and that's okay. Learn from your experiences, celebrate successes, and view challenges as opportunities for growth. Remember, every gardener, no matter how seasoned, has faced setbacks.

Celebrate the Seasons: Gardening is a dynamic, seasonal activity. Embrace the ebb and flow of the gardening calendar. Plan your garden to ensure a continuous display of colors and harvest throughout the seasons. Consider incorporating flowering plants for beauty and pollinator support.

The reason why this is so exciting for me is that the property has been unoccupied for at least 15 years now. They've always used a service to keep it reasonably mowed, so that's not an issue.

What is GREAT is that I know for certain that there hasn't been any chemicals sprayed on the lawn that whole time and that grass clippings are FANTASTIC mulch for my tomatoes. And my yard produces very little clipping because it's a small area of zoysia (thanks to the drought it stayed dormant almost all of last year).

The practice of raking leaves, putting them in bags, and then having the local sanitation department haul them off to some landfill is both wasteful and counterproductive.

As leaves across America make their annual autumn pilgrimage from the treetops to the ground, lawn and wildlife experts say it's better to leave them around than to bag them. First, because it keeps leaves out of landfills. Every year, about 8 million tons of leaves end up there. And second, because leaves help the grass. Leaves are full of nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. "Those nutrients are being returned to the soil," Susan Barton, a professor and extension specialist in landscape horticulture at the University of Delaware, told NPR. "But probably even more important than that, it's the organic matter. It's the fact that you've got this tissue that then eventually decomposes and improves the soil health." They also provide a habitat for insects, spiders, slugs — and depending on where you live — possibly turtles, toads and small mammals, according to the University of Delaware's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources.

At most, just run a lawn mower (preferably a hand powered mower) over the leaves to cut them into small pieces. Then sweep away any leaf debris from sidewalks and driveway. Repeat if necessary.

If you have space, you can also collect and compost leaves to use as a mulch for plants next spring.

These are climate friendly ways of marking autumn.