Protecting Garden Soil in Winter for Higher Yielding Spring Gardens: Essential Tips

[@KokoraLife]

Soil health is so critical!

[@jackgraham3393]

A person could be so lucky to have you as a neighbor, with your knowledge. My garden is a little over 2000 sq ft., only raised bed is for carrots. In the fall I lightly till in 4 to 6 inches of leaves that have been run through the chipper. Then one more thin layer of leaves and several inches of composted cow manure. The garden is then moldboard plowed in and left for winter. I have learned that the plowing exposes bugs so they freeze. Come spring I disk the ground and it is ready for planting. At age 83, I garden with garden tractors, making it easier on the body. Everything from tilling, to planting, to cultivating, to assisting in harvest of root vegetables. Always enjoy your videos. Will miss you working in your garden till spring.

[@Alisorganics]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the video and I agree it's a lot easier on the body to use a garden tractor! I truly think being outside and working with nature keeps us young. My father is 95 and he has several pecan trees. Out all winter picking up after the winds. He doesn’t leave 1 pecan!!! I hope to be like him. You sound amazing too!

[@jillnewton5630]

Ali! I don't have many leaves, but my neighbors share their leaves. I followed your leaf mold video last year and my garden soil greatly improved. Thank you

[@Alisorganics]

That is awesome! I love the idea of neighbors sharing!

[@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn]

I have used leaves and made leaf mold for over a decade and there is just nothing better for our garden beds. Thanks, Ali!

[@Alisorganics]

@@GrowCookPreserveWithKellyDawn agreed! I make a bunch of leaf mold as well. We have tons of leaves and so grateful for them

[@ParqForrest]

Love leaves! I ride around on trash day on my bike and trailer to collect neighbors leaves! I get leaves and the brown bags to compost or use to suppress weeds! ❤️

[@Alisorganics]

Awe! I love that you do that! I love leaves too!

[@jamiemartin8750]

I always injoy your video's. Its nice to see somebody wearing cooler clothes. Its still in the 80's in Central Alabama but supoosed to cool off this week. I started my no till garden last year. I went around to different neighborhood's gathering bags of leaves. People thought I was crazy. Leaves are the bomb! Leaves starting falling last week. So Ill be driving around soon. I have bought a leave shredder to shred the leaves. I just wished I had chckens and rabbits for manure. My city says you cant have chickens but I know a lot of people how have them but I also know people who have had to get rid of them. I just dont trust getting manure out. To big of a risk for me. I have a winter garden with a little bit of everthing in it. Then where I plant potatoes/ Sweet potatoes I have a cover crop with very spicy mustard you dont eat (got some wire worms), tilage radishes, peas, oats. My winter goal is to put in water tanks at each down spout o the house to collect rain water for the garden. I have already put in a water filter on my faucet to take out chlorine and other stuff that is put in the water.

[@Alisorganics]

Oh my gosh this year has been hot here. How about for you. We finally have had a couple nice fall like days, now we have e lots of wind. Crazy weather year! Leaves are the bomb!!!

[@justusmuiruri-jh5jm]

Easy way to make life easier❤❤

[@amyberchtold2728]

Hello Ali. I just found your channel! We are in VA, zone 7. A month ago, had 6 beautiful goats born! I am the gardener on the homestead. Your info on leaves, chicken manure and cilantro were an answer to prayer. Thank you!

[@Alisorganics]

Thank you 😊. 6 kids! Oh I love baby goats. We won’t have any until late February.

[@mamabear8550]

Your dog is so cute ❤

[@heatherjolly8389]

Every fall I'm so jealous as a gardener that I live with evergreens on my property! Western WA doesn't havev as many leafing trees

[@Alisorganics]

I remember when we first moved here we didn’t have any trees and when we finally did, i thought the leave were only good to jump in! Now let the granddkids make piles, jump and play, and hurry and gather before the wind blows those gold nuggets away! 😃🥰

[@dorcasrodriguez2901]

❤❤❤

[@lindalyc]

I have a question: covering leaves covered over soil would let potential pest bugs overwinter? I did this this past winter over my flower bed and found this Spring a lot of pests on the leaves of our roses and rhubarbs. Thanks

[@asyed1995]

Topic Important , Either Soils or Souls .

[@LittleIowa]

The winter months here are really windy and I've tried several times to put leaves on my garden beds and they just blow away my question is what do you think about a brand called easy straw . I only have three garden beds so it wouldn't cost me a lot of money to put this product on there I'm just not sure if it's safe for the garden even though it's labeled safe for the garden.

[@Alisorganics]

We get pretty windy here as well. We put a solid fence on the north side of our garden and the leaves stay a little better. I don’t know anything about easy straw. I’ll have to do some research. Have you done much research? It would be nice to have something that doesn’t blow away as easy. 😊