Autumn soil preparation – spring flower garden
Winter dormancy phase
During the winter, the soil is the main source of energy and nutrients for plants and animals and protects them from freezing. In order for the land to be ready for cold winter days, autumn soil preparation is needed. In the winter, the garden does not act as a place where living organisms can survive, while in reality, it is different. When the temperature drops below 0 ° C during the winter, frost or ice crust is caught on the earth’s surface.
Various factors affect the thickness of the frost that forms on the surface. If the autumn soil preparation does not lead to the installation of adequate insulation, the soil will become depleted during the winter, which will harm plants.
Source: freepik
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Formation of ice crust
During the summer, the sun’s rays heat the earth, which absorbs heat, while during the winter, the ground releases heat to equalize the temperature with the colder air. Over time, the earth becomes colder, and when the temperature reaches zero, the water begins to freeze. This is how the first layers of ice crust are formed. With colder weather, the crust covers deeper and deeper layers of soil.
In order to preserve the plant world during the winter period and bear fruit next year, it is necessary to prepare the soil in a way that retains as much heat as possible that it collected during the warm days. Therefore, the soil is prepared in the fall by insulating the soil with organic matter, which is an excellent natural insulator of the soil and protects plants from freezing.
Dormancy of crops during winter
During the summer, plants grow and develop thanks to the sun’s rays and the amount of water they receive. With the arrival of winter, it is increasingly difficult for plants to access nutrients, so they adapt to cold weather in different ways.
Annual plants such as corn, peas, and zucchini have a one-year life cycle during which they grow and bear fruit. During the winter, their seeds are preserved, so they can be planted next year as well. Biennial plants such as beets, parsley, and others have a longer life cycle. During the first year, they develop leaves and grow, creating food reserves in order to bear fruit the following year.
Deciduous trees are prepared for winter dormancy by shedding leaves and slowing down growth in autumn. During the winter, the water often freezes, which negatively affects the trees because it reduces water availability. That is why deciduous trees use fallen leaves from which water evaporates and thus water reaches during the winter.
Evergreen trees have thick needle-like leaves that are resistant to cold. During the winter, the leaves sometimes shrink to be less exposed to cold weather.
Soil insulation is done in spring and autumn, and it is necessary to prepare the soil for organic insulation. In order to properly prepare, the soil needs to be cultivated so that it is soft and loose in the end.
Organic insulation
Autumn soil preparation involves cultivating the soil with garden tools before adding organic insulation.
Finely cultivated and crushed soil provides conditions for the weeds of plants to spread and branch properly and helps to decompose organic fertilizers better. Such soft and loose soil has better airflow, so the organic layer applied to the soil serves as successful insulation during the winter.
When choosing organic insulation can be used:
Mulch – an organic product that is usually made from tree bark (fir, pine, spruce) and is used to cover plants during the winter. This process is called mulching, and in addition to preventing the development of weeds, it contributes to a better flow of air and nutrients. In this way, mulch helps the development of microorganisms in the soil. It is an excellent insulator because it prevents excessive cooling and heating of the earth and thus prevents differences in temperature between air and soil.
Source: freepik
Author’s URL: www.freepik.com/user6652880
Compost – is a natural substance caused by rotting plants and other organic matter. In addition to giving the soil structure, it is used as plant nutrition because of its nutrients. It is beneficial when preparing the soil during the fall because it also serves as insulation during cold days in addition to providing food for the soil.
Fallen leaves – used for isolation of crushed because this way water gets to the roots of plants more easily. In case of shredding a larger area of leaves, a sharp garden tool can be used to shred and prepare the leaves for insulation. Care should be taken not to compact the leaves too much, as this will prevent airflow.
Source:freepik
Author’s URL: www.freepik.com/aleksandrkirillov
Garden work
Before the winter period, autumn soil preparation is performed in order to prepare the soil for spring, which will facilitate planting activities. Although dried plants are good food for the soil during the winter days, it is necessary to check that they do not contain harmful insects or hints of plant diseases. If the soil is isolated and harmful substances remain under it, it can have a negative impact on the fertility of the soil next year, and autumn soil preparation will not be so successful. Plant diseases are easily transmitted, even through tools, so care should be taken to keep the tools clean so that diseases are not transferred to the rest of the healthy soil.
Source: countrylife.co.uk
After the autumn soil preparation is completed, the tools are prepared to be ready for spring. It is essential to wash the tool to remove dirt and weeds. If necessary, it should be lubricated with oil to ensure longevity. Also, the tool should be placed in a covered place to avoid wear and rust. Some tools are made of stainless steel, so they do not need additional protection, but they should definitely be in a sheltered and dry place. This period is also suitable for buying new tools because it is not the season of garden work, so off-season discounts can be used to supplement the missing tools.
The importance of pruning
Just as the soil needs autumn soil preparation, pruning plays an important role in the proper growth and development of woody plants. Pruning can be done with various garden tools, while the plants themselves can discard excess branches.
All woody plants need to be pruned, while the pruning period and quantity depend on the type of plants. Some plants need to remove up to half of the twigs in order to continue with proper development.
The pruning period for deciduous plants begins in the dormant phase. Just as autumn soil preparation is not practiced during rainy and wet weather, pruning should be avoided if the weather is rainy. If parts of diseased plants are pruned, the infection can be more easily transmitted to other parts of the plant.
If there are evergreen trees in the garden, it should not be pruned too much, except to remove damaged and diseased branches.
If there is a hedge in the yard, the autumn preparation of the land then includes pruning it because, in that period, the temperature is still above 15 ° C. In that way, the seedlings are shaped, and they are given enough space and air to be even lusher next year. In the case of compact space, it is necessary to remove all twigs that intertwine or interfere with the growth and development of other twigs. In that way, the proper development of the plant is directed.
Source: plantophiles.com
Proper pruning of plants is vital for plants to grow and develop properly. If pruning is done incorrectly, the plants remain more exposed to insects and various diseases. That is why it is crucial to remove all parts of plants that have been damaged both mechanically and naturally. In addition to contributing to health, regular pruning of plants also has aesthetic benefits, making the garden look healthy, beautiful, and tidy.
Although gardening often takes a lot of time and energy, autumn soil preparation will bring great pleasure in the spring and enable the plant world to develop correctly, which is a priority of every garden or green area.