Fall…Setting in motion the foundation for thriving in plants and people.
Through the years people have asked me, “What’s your favorite season”? In my youth, the Spring of my life, I told them, Winter. In the Summer of my life, I told people it was Fall. Now that I am in the Fall of my life I would answer, Summer. I suspect that in the Winter of my life, I will say Fall.
But there are lessons to be learned and seeds to be planted in every season – for your garden and your life. I also believe we humans can create our own seasons of change.
Now let’s get to Fall and foundations…
We are entering Fall, starting with the Autumnal Equinox and into the Winter Solstice. The air becomes crisp, yet the sun warms our face, the colors of the leaves dazzle with brilliant shades of gold, orange, and red. The asters are stunning and the pollinators are zipping and sipping. Nature in her glory and I am grateful.
Fall is the best time of the year to set in motion the foundations of our gardens.
The Foundation of Soil…
I hadn’t always understood, and still don’t fully comprehend, the amazing things that happen in soil. Truly, soil is the foundation of our lives. I don’t believe it’s necessary to completely understand it to fully enjoy it.
Soil anchors roots and feeds our plants. Paying attention to and nurturing that foundation will deliver the best results. Soil holds the key to a plant’s ability to take up nutrients, water, and oxygen. Soil also acts as a filter for rainwater, cleaning it as it makes its way into our aquifers.
To understand your soil, first get a soil test. There are numerous test kits in big box stores and at some local garden centers but any gardener that knows their dirt will tell you to send a sample into your local university or college with a horticulture program. Lacking that, connect with your local County and/or Department of Natural Resources. They will give you a more comprehensive report on the N, P, and K of your soil. That would be Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus.
My soil test, specifically for my vegetable garden, came back and it was suggested that in the Spring I add a 33-0-0 (N-P-K) fertilizer. In this instance, because nitrogen leaches through soil fairly quickly, it’s important to have it available to my plants that are started in Spring. Without this soil test, I would not have found that out and my plants might not have been as productive.
A rudimentary test for discovering if you have sandy, clay, or loam soil is to take a fistful, wet it, and if it ribbons up, it’s more clay, if it falls apart, it’s more sand and if it crumbles nicely, it’s more like loam. Loam is the goal – it drains well, not too fast, not too slow.
Foundation of Fall Composting…
Building the soil, replenishing micronutrients, and keeping the soil “fluffy” is the goal of composting. This allows for easier planting. Doing this in fall allows the compost to work its magic all winter.
Shred the leaves with your mower and bag them for use on garden beds and in compost. Using shredded leaves instead of whole leaves is recommended because the smaller size of the leaves makes decomposition faster. If you want the leaves even more finely shred, mow the area once without the bagger and then a second time with the attachment.
Don’t forget that mulching fall leaves and leaving a thin layer on your lawn is an excellent nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
Leaves are rich in carbon. In a compost pile, they help to balance the carbon-nitrogen ratio (kitchen scraps are high in nitrogen) that is needed. They also absorb excess moisture, helping to keep the pile from becoming soggy and smelly.
Mix shredded leaves and/or compost into the soil to enrich new or renovated garden beds. Doing this in the fall allows time for the leaves and compost to start decaying.
As I ponder my garden foundation, I too ponder the foundations of my relationships with people and nature. It’s a time to renew them as well. And a time to “turn under” the spent foliage of both, let go of what was and anticipate what’s to come.
Written By: Teri Knight
Podcast Host: Garden Bite
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If possible, PLEASE do not mow/shred your leaves! Many beneficial insects overwinter in leaf litter. Whenever possible it is best to leave them in place or use them as garden mulch outside of the compost pile. Here is a good sources of additional information on leaf management: https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/landscape/leaf-management-plan/