If you are a landowner, you know there is never a shortage of thinks for you to do, no matter the season. However, in order to avoid a major growing upset in the spring, you must complete important tasks around your flowerbeds, raised beds, and your veggie and herb patches. Here are some of the most important tasks:
Weeds, Weeds, Weeds!
Weeds can quickly spread to your vegetable spaces and leave you cursing them all through the spring and summer growing seasons. Don’t be tempted by thinking that the freezing temperatures during winter will kill them, because even if they die off in a freeze, you very well may still be left with root systems that could potentially have simply gone dormant when the temperatures dipped.
Make sure you get rid of as many weeds as you possibly can. You could place down a thick weed barrier that will also serve to insulate the soil and keep your other plants from succumbing to too much of a chill. Plastic sheeting works well too.
Goodbye To The Old
Take the time to pull out old plants and those that have died off or are looking a bit puny. These plants are probably not going to make it through the winter and will just steal nutrients from your soil, as well as taking up space that you can plan for some new crops. Before you put them into your compost bins, you should take care that they are not infested with pests. Burn or discard plants that appear to be infested or diseased. Even one diseased tomato plant this year could find its way into infecting your entire crop next spring.
Another thing to take into consideration is to remove any fruit that may have fallen to the ground at the end of the season. This fruit can be a cozy home for the coddling moth and its larvae, the apple worm, to overwinter, so make sure you remove it!
Soil Remedies, To Ensure Good Harvests
Make sure you do a soil test before autumn harvest.
No matter what the situation may be, by fixing your soil issues now you’ll be able to get your fall and winter crops growing earlier or allowing fallow soil the time it needs to settle down with the remedies you applied to it.
Soil is very important so ensure a good quality one that will serve you well all season long.
Rebuild, Reuse, Repair
You know your property better than anyone, so you know what might need to be repaired. Make sure that fences are in good shape, ensure that your barn doors aren’t hanging off the hinges, patch up roof leaks, check on your chicken coops and make sure that your equipment is in good functional shape. Fix your fences, gates, and barn doors today rather than risk seeing your lambs and foals heading for the hills in the spring!
Adding A Bit Of Warmth
You probably know this, however, it is very important to remember and move several plants to a sheltered spot when the winter temperatures make their appearance. Many find that growing lemons outdoors is an impossibility due to the freezes their area receives each winter, so if you live in such an area keep in mind the conditions and take proper care of your plants.
It is important to give your livestock good protection from the elements you are able to afford. A barn or a sheltered pen can give them the warmth they need. Plenty of fresh water is also advisable as freezing temperatures can freeze the water and leave nothing for your precious livestock.
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