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It is that time of year again. Time to wake up the garden beds. In the fall I add leaves (mulched with the lawn mower) and garden debris to my beds for the winter. In the spring, I work it into the gardens as there is nothing healthier that I have found then leaf rot for the gardens. Leaves are packed with trace minerals that trees draw up from deep in the soil. When added to your garden, leaves feed earthworms and beneficial microbes. They lighten heavy soils and help sandy soils retain moisture. They’re a great source of carbon to balance the nitrogen in your compost pile. And they insulate tender plants from cold.

In the spring, I work the remaining leaf compost into the garden bed which helps keep the garden soil light and aerated for the growing season. All gardens should have a covering all year long, whether it is bark mulch, leaves or wood chips. This helps to protect against temperature fluctuations, holds moisture and breaks down slowly to feed the soil and ultimately the plants in your garden. To see nature at its best, just go for a walk through the woods. All the waste falls and stays on the ground, covering everything. Even during the hottest summer, everything in the woods stays green and healthy.

As a bonus for protecting and feeding your garden, the mulch you use to cover your gardens will help keep the weeds down, all year long!