Category: Fertilizer

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Outdoor Gardening Things To Do In The Winter

 

It is January and though it is winter for many of us there are still a few outdoor gardening things we can do.

If your ground is not frozen, you can still take soil tests  – take separate tests for lawns, vegetable and flower gardens or shrub borders. You can get your soil test from your local extension office.

And if you soil is not frozen you can apply lime as needed – your soil test results will tell you if you need lime (do not apply lime if your ground is frozen).

You should still be adding organics (your garbage) to your compost pile or bin see TheGardenLady10/24.

Whatever time of year, all year round, you can always prune Dead Wood on trees, shrubs and vines. Be sure the wood is dead when you are pruning in the winter and not just dormant.

But if the ground is frozen or there is lots of snow, this is the best time to be snuggled indoors reading all those gardening books you received this holiday season or borrowed from your local library. And now instead of fattening sugar plums dancing in your head, you can plan and have dreams of your garden in 2008.

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Fallen Leaves – A Fine Fertilizer

 

TheGardenLady received this question from Ruth:

Is it true that fallen leaves can make good fertilizer? If the leaves can be used as fertilizer what are the benefits? Is it wise to mow/use as mulch the fallen leaves?

Fallen leaves make excellent fertilizer. This is nature’s way of making fertilizer without help from mankind; fallen leaves provide the nutrients that trees need and will enrich the soil – this includes increased soil organic matter, improved soil moisture holding, soil tilth (the physical condition of a soil), structure and fertility plus it helps the community dispose of leaves.  See this link about recycling and mulching.

But the leaves left on a lawn or home garden have to be mulched unless you compost the leaves:Read The Garden Lady’s column Would You Throw Out Your Old Gold. It is very wise to mow your fallen leaves if you want to make the leaves into mulch and it is a lot easier than raking leaves. There are mulching lawn mowers or mulching attachments for lawn mowers the mulching easier. There are also mulchers – machines that you can buy to shred leaves. But you can use a regular mower, going over the leaves a few times to be sure the leaves are finely cut. It is easiest to mulch them by mowing them every few days so they don’t accumulate. You don’t want any more than 6 inches of leaf mulch. If the grass is visible after mowing, no other steps are necessary. If there are clumps of chopped leaves, either re-mow in the other direction to chop the leaves further, or rake them up and put them in your compostpile.  And if you have too much mulched leaves for your lawn you can put them in your garden beds, flower beds and around trees and shrubs.

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Vermicomposting for everyone – even in classrooms

TheGardenLady received these questions about vermicomposting from Ashley –

I have recently started a barrel composter. It is a modified 55 gallon foodsafe drum/barrel that is working nicely. Can I add worms to this? Because it is off the ground they will not enter natually, and I have been hearing so much about the benifits of worms. I would just love to join in on all the fun. I have yet to read or hear of someone trying out this method; though I’m sure there out there…any thoughts?

Worms are a benefit to composting, so congratulations for wanting to start this excellent endeavor. Some schools are now teaching students how to do Vermicomposting. There are many excellent sites on the computer to learn Vermicomposting. Two sites for teachers that you can use to learn how to start this type of composting are here and here.

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Composting and Worms

TheGardenLady received emails from two people asking questions that are similar. I will try to answer both together as well as saying a few words separately to each.

Laura King wrote:

I wanted to know more about composting and what kinds of things I can put in it. I heard so many different things, I know what not to put in but not everything I could be adding.I also want to know if I can add my used tea bags to my rain barrel? Thanks for your help.I just found your web site, so tomorrow when the ids are gone I’ll be back.Thanks for a great site. Laura your friend in dirt.

                                                                         

Jay wrote:

Heard that putting worms in garden makes the garden grow better. true? How about in flower pots or boxes? inside?

                                                                                              

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The chemical/organic fertilizer debate

Here is a question from Micah and his wife  about growing plants in general.

Whether it’s about the lawn or potted plants, my wife thinks it is good to use chemicals like Miracle Grow and anti-weed fertilizer. What are your thoughts?  I’m a “natural” guy while my wife is an artificial supplement girl.  Who is right?  Or is there some middle ground?

This is really more than one question. Tomes have been written on these subjects.  I can only answer superficially.

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