Most years I use the month of November to get my garden ready for the next spring’s planting. Preparation includes removing all the trellising I’ve set up, a thorough weeding of most of the beds, cultivating and shaping the beds, and covering both my garden plots with a thick layer of leaves.
North Beds
This November was different, and the garden is still a weedy mess, with only a partial leaf cover and most of the beds unprepared. I lost almost three weeks of work opportunity. We had our floors refinished and I pretty much had to stay out of the house for over a week. Then we went to San Antonio for a week to see our son’s new house and celebrate the coming of our first grandchild (the baby is due to arrive in January). So the garden got left behind.
Leaf Reserve
I’m hoping for some nice December weather. If I get nothing more done before a heavy snowfall or the soil turns into concrete, I’ll have to deal with it in the spring, but I’m pretty sure I’ll still get a lot done before then. I just need a weather break. We’ll see what happens.
Blown Leaf Pile
I always like to be entered in your give -aways.
my gardens look almost as unprepared as yours, except I am still eating kale from them.
I have a wonderful grandson, Isaac, 14, who is a gardener!! so much fun for me.He lives in Vermont, so his gardens are well put to bed, now.
If I win something it’ll go to him.
Hi
I am curious…Is it necessary to mow the leaves to break them up before putting on the garden beds. I have a bed of garlic planted that is still bare. I was going to cover with straw, but I have a lot of leaves on my property. Could I use the leaves whole? My soil needs organic matter. Thank you
Well when it doesn’t get done to my perfection i need to close my eyes and let the snow cover beautify the garden. Sometimes I gets it done and sometimes I don’t get it all tidy up. However, I have learned it will get done most likely sometime. Still only 24 hours in a day to accomplish what we can. There is merit to enjoy home, family and r and r!! So as my friend says when she doesn’t reach her goals “so what”!!
Looks like you will get your chance to clean up since December has come in pretty mild and predictions are good yet for a while. Glad you were able to go to TX.
Just got the last things out of garden used the last of the tomatoes Monday dug some horseradish made some horseradish for winter is there any Easley way to prepare horseradish is a grinder better than grading it we took some garlic builds and peeled them then put them in olive oil in a jar for keeping It fresh we had this article on keeping garlic we will see has anybody ever done that
Has anyone ever peeled garlic bulbs and put them in jars with olive oil to keep them fresh also is there any easy way to prepare horseradish or is grading the only way
Be careful with leaves as a garlic cover. Leaves can get wet and become an impenetrable mat that the young garlic shoots cannot penetrate. I’ve always had perfect luck with straw, which is a lot lighter and a better insulator.
I do not mow my leaves, but I also don’t work them directly into the soil, but let them break down as a mulch in the paths.
Hi Bob. Judy says garlic in oil is not a goo0d long-term storage solution. Too much danger of spoilage. Horseradish only works (gives off heat) when the root is shredded or mashed open. Grating seems to work best.