Edible Yards

If you’ve decided to put your garden to rest until wetter weather, or you’ve stopped planting and have some bare patches presenting themselves in your garden, remember to keep your soil moist and covered. Yes, water your soil! I, like most organic gardening teachers, sound like a broken record when I teach about soils. Healthy soils produce healthy plants. Living soil produces healthy plants. Adding plenty of compost and organic matter to your soil is the key to a thriving garden. Encourage micro- and macro-organisms in your soil. Soil is a living, breathing environment and all of life needs water to survive so water your soil, not just your plants. And so on.

So, don’t let your soils dry out completely. If you choose to leave some of your garden fallow over the summer, add some compost, water it really well and then place a good, thick layer of mulch (at least 4 inches) on top to help retain moisture, fertility and micro-organisms for fall crops. Be sure to check the soil underneath the mulch once a week to make sure it is still wet.