If you added a top compost to your garden beds
in the fall, take a pitch fork or a shovel and dig once and turn it over to let
the nutrients mix into the soil.
There
is no need to turn it more than once.Over the winter the soil did it’s thing and the nutrients are right
where they need to be for your little seeds or seelings.
Be
careful not to pack it down by stepping in your garden.
As the leaves are falling, don’t bag them up!Collect them now, put them on your tired garden
beds and put them to sleep for the winter.
You don’t even have to turn the leaves over, just keep piling them on to
bring wet soil, worms and nutrients to your beds.When you turn them over in the spring you
will have a very happy garden, awake and ready to grow.
Did you know that ants don't like cucumber? Or that the Thai lemon
grass plant is a natural mosquito repellent? There's a wealth of
information on natural pest control remedies on the internet, so if
you're facing a specific insect problem, get on the web and search for
non-toxic pest control solutions. You might be surprised how easy and
inexpensive it is to control pests the natural way!
Now that the hot weather is here, it’s a good idea to use
a sunscreen to protect your new seedlings.
No SPF lotion needed.
Using a physical shade screen, such as remy or sunshade (which filters
sunlight) with stakes to prop it up, will create a cover and keep your seedlings nice and cool. You can also use it over your lettuce to stop
it from bolting, while you are away at work.
Use sharp garden sheers and harvest
it just above the soil, about 1 to 2 inches. Doing this will prevent it from
bolting (going to seed) and en- courages the lettuce to keep sprouting out new
leaves.
This will keep your lettuce, spinach
and swiss chard growing all season!
