by Rex Trulove

Created on: March 21, 2009

Many people don't truly understand that gardening is something that is done year around. There are tasks and pleasures for every season. The planting of the spring gives way to the weeding and similar tasks of summer, and harvesting in the fall. Winterizing the garden is simply another task, usually done after the harvest, neither more nor less important than any other.

The winterizing of the garden actually begins before winter, at the end of the harvest season. Winter will be the time when the ground will be allowed to rest. However, this doesn't mean that the garden should simply be left alone. In fact, this is the perfect time to begin laying down a thick layer of mulch.

The best part of this is that the mulch doesn't necessarily need to be composted, since it will have all winter to do so. Many people have great success by just putting the leaves raked up from the yard, on the garden, and letting them break down until spring. They are then tilled into the garden, increasing the richness of the soil and helping with the texture of the ground. If you do this, it is a good idea to grind the leaves prior to putting them on the garden, such as by going over them with a lawn mower a few times. Smaller pieces of leaves decompose more quickly and easily than larger pieces, and there is less matting.

It is true that some plants don't require rich soil. However, on average, the richer the soil is, the better next year's garden will produce. The mulch isn't just for adding nutrients to the soil, though. Many helpful organisms, including worms, tend to do especially well in soil that contains a lot of organic matter. Adding good mulch means that by planting time, there is an abundance of worms and other creatures just waiting to help you with the crop.

A thick layer of mulch laid down before the weather gets cold, is also a great way to choke out well-established weeds. There are some people who honestly do enjoy the chore of weeding, and it can have a nearly therapeutic quality to it. However, for many people, weeding is more of a job they really don't want to do, than one they do.

Often not even considered in winterizing the garden are the garden implements; rakes, hoes, shovels, spades and other tools. Without these being in good order, the gardening is a mess at best. Winterizing the garden must include the care for these tools. Blades should be cleaned and sanitized, wooden handles should be wiped down with linseed oil to increase their longevity, and the implements

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