Winter Soil Building Methods!

[@Rebecca-nr3fv]

I am so grateful for you. FINALLY someone not selling more crap. But a real way to fix my very used and abused clay soil. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I'm so excited to use alfalfa pellets and cover crops.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Yes, we are all way oversold "solutions" for our gardens that end up not being solutions at all but sometimes even worsening problems! Nature knows the way.

[@pinkmonk999]

I´ve used Daikon as part of my cover crops to break up hard soil. It dies during winter and becomes great worm food. 🙂

[@SoilRevivalJourney]

This is such valuable information! 🌾

[@heavymechanic2]

In December, I bought an 80 gal composter thing and filled it with pine shavings from a hen house and waste from processing chickens, and topped it with bedding from a broiler pen. To my surprise, it was cooking at 130 in freezing weather. As I pulled the thermometer out, steam was coming off the stem. After two-weeks, its still cooking at 100-110 depending upon the ambient temp for the day.. There is a 6x6 pile about 2-3-ft deep nearly finished, and I'm in the process of cleaning out another poultry pen to start another small pile and let the chickens scratch it up all winter.. Composting works! The stuff sold in stores is becoming a scam full of yard waste and sand with little value.

[@CaliKim29]

Yep, I am SO with you ….CaliKim

[@cbak1819]

Very helpful. Thanks for the rundown and encouragement to keep things moving even during the wintery months. I am inspired to make some leaf corals like those! We are not dry here in my area..We mow mulch our leaves to help with drying them out so they don't turn into sheets of leaves that take years to compost.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Ah lucky, you have the ability to compost faster with that moisture!! Keep it up!

[@lucymarie-456]

Bets compost video I've seen! Also in Colorado so good to have info specific to us. Thanks

[@cbak1819]

I don't know why I have an aversion to cover cropping? I tried it once.. I will give it a try again sooner or later. But I love the benefits you are speaking of. I ran out of leaves so I put a pile is sticks on one bed. Better than nothing I figured. Thanks for a fun year of growing adventures. 🎉

[@Blossomandbranch]

Hey, that still helps insulate!! I would give it a try this spring if possible!

[@arbusco]

What do you finding this winter so far with it being so incredibly warm here in Colorado? Would your cover crops be really growing at this time of year in a normal winter?

[@pupgardens]

Wow you are a connoisseur of soil thank you and happy new year

[@Blossomandbranch]

Happy New Year to you too! Soil is the foundation to everything!

[@backyardrailroader]

Good points. I prefer the leaf cover myself. Never thought of burlap cover also. It does get windy at times, but to excessively. As sad as it may sound, I have nothing going on on Christmas Day and was looking for something to do....

[@Blossomandbranch]

I love that you're thinking about your soil even on Christmas Day! It’s a tough year for me too, gardening helps. ♥️

[@sheryljeanne]

I'll be alone Christmas day also. So you're not the only one. Merry Christmas to you

[@Tippler0611]

Leaf cover is so wonderful in my area. PNW rains keep leaves in place. The last few years I've become aware how the leaf cover harbors slugs that wipe out early spring seedlings. Merry Christmas to you. As distant as we may all be, clearly we are not alone 💜

[@Ginger_McElfresh_Art]

You could also use a piece of landscape fabric to cover your compost pile. It still lets some moisture in, but keeps stuff from blowing around and retains a little moisture and warmth 😉.

[@Blossomandbranch]

You can! I stopped using frost fabric when I realized it was woven polyester, one of the biggest offenders of microplastic contamination in ag 😬

[@jimkingsland1645]

Thank you Bri! Very helpful as always! I love your practical methods! January update: Following your advice, I planted a test patch of Crimson Clover last fall. Seeing that green appear as recent snows melt is a joy reminder spring is coming!

[@Kathysart]

I LOVE ALL that you present,

[@charliemcgriff7643]

I like your approach on the presentation concerning the soil i agree about soil not go buying soil from store where I cannot enrich my own soil through leaves

[@lisawatts843]

Thank you for your helpful videos. Can you share what garden clogs you are wearing in this video (see 11:48 mark)?

[@OliviasBlooms]

Super inspiring and always informative. I appreciate your transparency in how and where you get your information

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thank you! I'm always learning and sharing!

[@kellygoodwin1439]

This video is perfect timing, I've been prepping my soil for the spring! I covered my inground beds with whole leaves, but I stacked them kind of high, like a foot. Does that matter? Should I be trying to wet the leaves if it doesn't rain? I love your channel by the way, I really appreciate you bringing common sense back to gardening, and reminding everyone that we don't have to buy a million things to have a great garden.

[@Blossomandbranch]

It's ok if they're thick. We mulch our dahlia rows with 2' of leaves in fall and the soil looks great come spring!

[@jazzychas46]

Most informative I have seen.😊

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thanks for watching! I’m so glad it was helpful!

[@salmanrazakmemon]

beauty with brain... very informative video, Thanks my friend

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thanks, so glad you found it helpful!

[@Jenevershed]

Fantastic video, so informative!

[@tamararobinson2069]

Great Info!! Thanks so much!!!🤎💚

[@Blossomandbranch]

I'm so glad you found it helpful!

[@laceras1611]

I love all your gardening tips but also I love your style! Need a list for your wardrobe ;)

[@Blossomandbranch]

Oh thank you, that’s so kind! I love dovetail for overalls! dovetailworkwear.com/pages/welcome-mavens?dt_id=133437&BLOSSOMANDBRANCHFARM&Maven&

[@laceras1611]

@@Blossomandbranch thank you! Saving that site for future outdoor work outfits

[@KokoraLife]

Great to know what you can do in winter!

[@Jamesjghome]

Thanks for sharing your a wealth of knowledge information, a jewel, merry Christmas

[@Blossomandbranch]

Merry Christmas to you too! Thank you!

[@Bandaid17]

Thank you so many good points. Trying to rejuvenate our soil with wood chips oats peas. The germination wasn’t too good this summer though. Will try again this spring/summer. Nice to know I have to be patient and that it’s going to take awhile. I’ll keep at it.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Summer germination of peas can be a bit tough since it can be hot and dry! Cover the seeds with some burlap to help germination.

[@Bandaid17]

@ thank you!

[@WesternMONo-TillGardening]

Thanks for the idea of covering leaves with burlap. It looks pretty darn expensive, though. Does it last years and years? What is the cheapest supplier you've found?

[@Blossomandbranch]

AM Leonard has it in a 36”x300’ for $100. :) depends on how much growing space you have but in this video we’ve used less than one roll.

[@barbaravanerp4598]

I’ve used my burlap for years. It does break down over time but I love it.

[@tory464]

💚👍have a great holiday

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thank you! You too!

[@sydneythomas9561]

Thank you for posting. I recently moved and will be starting from scratch at my new home. Do you have a video on starting a compost?

[@Blossomandbranch]

We will when we get the new piles started!

[@fantasticforties]

Thank you so much for the useful information. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thank you for being here, Merry Christmas to you too!

[@dglemmer1]

Learned a lot!! How do you keep your pile moist (watered) in the winter? Take a bucket of water out to water it? I live in Colorado and I am always struggling with keeping things watered - sooo dry here. The first time I tried composting, it was keeping it wet that finally made me give up - especially in the winter.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Yup, I just do 5 gallon buckets because a hose would freeze and I hate dragging them in and out!

[@seaday123]

Good stuff!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Thanks for watching!

[@kimberlydavis5960]

Thanks for sharing. When can the pea mix cover be planted on the spring

[@Blossomandbranch]

I usually do 8 weeks before last frost and cover with burlap while germinating and establishing to help keep hungry birds from eating it as well as helping with temperature regulation!

[@meliponarioschulz463]

Congratulações. Brasil

[@BaughbeSauce]

I had people in the area recommending me to use wood mulch over my garden because of the wind we get here and intense weed pressure.... The wood mulch was HEAVILY seeded with grasses, lambs quarter, and dandelions. UHG. it's such a fight every year. I already struggled with weeds, now they're IN. THE. MULCH. I can't win.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Ugh, that’s such a bummer, hopefully you can try a weed smothering cover crop or maybe solarize the area!

[@BaughbeSauce]

@Blossomandbranch i might try a cover crop. Extended periods od trying to keep the tarp down and not get holes in it? That might be really hard.

[@rachelleighwilliams]

Thanks for posting this! I'd love the link to your alfalfa fertilizer video.

[@Blossomandbranch]

It's in the description now, apologies!

[@28tv.]

Nice Video

[@feliciaharris884]

Thanks Bree! What cover crop would you use in the Spring?

[@Blossomandbranch]

Oats and peas is great for beginners !

[@feliciaharris884]

@Blossomandbranch okay thanks! I didn't get anything jn the ground for fall but would like to cover crop in spring!

[@FaeHavenFlowers]

I need to know about growing in a extremely windy area. We just moved to a area that is very windy from about March until July which is a new experience for me.

[@Blossomandbranch]

I would definitely try to use windbreaks and create a barrier of some sort to help protect your seedlings. Erosion protection is also important so have a plan for keeping the soil covered during windy times (for us it's usually early spring)!

[@BunkerhillRanch]

We have 10 acres of thick trees…..many fallen and rotting. Is the soil around them ( consists of rotting leaves and branches mostly ) good to put in our garden.? We have put about 4” of ground leaves atop our garden this winter, and plan to till them in this spring. I was planning on putting a bunch of the “woodland compost” on before I till…..????

[@m.b.1170]

Should be top notch, full of great leaf mold & micoryzome,

[@Ginger_McElfresh_Art]

I always enjoy your videos! So, if you were to tarp your cover crop, when it's time to terminate it, wouldn't that kill off the soil life? Thanks! 😊

[@michelleyanche1706]

I was wondering that too

[@Blossomandbranch]

Tarping to terminate is much faster than solarizing, so it doesn’t have the same detrimental effect on soil life! It takes only about 10 days, you’d want to do it a couple weeks before planting. Hope that makes sense!

[@Ginger_McElfresh_Art]

Thanks for explaining that!​@@BlossomandbranchMerry Christmas 🎄

[@tanyakilbane7636]

Don’t forget to water that mulch too! I use the weight of the ice to keep the leaves in place. I call my compost my ice block in winter, then come spring, I can’t use it until it thaws.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Yes great tip, especially for dry zones!

[@gardentherapySOS]

Per your advise to grow cover crops, I decided to grow winter peas in my raised beds. Question though, when it comes time to plant vegetables, can I just turn over the pea plants with a shovel, into the soil?

[@Blossomandbranch]

What zone are you?

[@protocolpalpatine]

you can find free compost eveywhere though. i got a load for free last year from a cattle farm. they just said show up and will fill ur truck lol. no charge

[@juliepuhr9806]

A few of my tomato plants have wilted quickly. The land was an old farm homestead, not sure what was used on the grasses area. Any suggested

[@sassytherabbit]

I love your natural methods! I'm trying to go the same way with mine as well and keep getting thwarted by family/well meaning friends. I'll keep trying though. In the past when you received plastic contaminated compost, what did you do with it? I've had the same issue recently and need to decide if im picking out the plastic bits and using it or getting rid of it somehow.

[@briavandermolen9472]

Great video, but a word of warning for Midwest gardeners. Hairy vetch and purple crown vetch are both notorious invasives that are causing a lot of damage to our ecosystems. If you want to support your local biodiversity, please consider other options.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Cover crop management is ALL about timing. Terminating at the right stage is key, that means before setting seed, which would prevent any weediness. :)

[@johnsrob0]

​​@@BlossomandbranchManagement is definitely key. I also think of it as a numbers game. There's always a statistical chance for the plants to escape which is how invasives often start. It's why I can't bring myself to chance it on anything that's a known invasive. If the crop depends on proper termination timing and the novice gardener screws up and waits too late, or has an injury that disables them for the rest of the growing season and they can't get out in the field to deal with it, etc etc...I'm a bit of a catastrophizer if you couldn't tell! Love the videos, thanks for all your amazing ideas.

[@DanhZo-lz5du]

Chia sẽ hay lắm bạn chúc một ngày tốt lành 1like

[@bettinaripperger4159]

Blessings to you

[@tayams5420]

*looks at 2m of snow over my garden* So... should I just put a tarp on the snow? /s

[@erinwill6743]

But doesn't the tarp kill the top layers of soil to? Especially in Colorado with the sun in the afternoon

[@Blossomandbranch]

No, the UV rays are much more damaging than a tarp; in winter, it doesn't heat the underside like in summer.

[@johnhansen8272]

Zone 7 first and last frost dates are the same as zone 5? I’m scratching my head right now trying to figure out how.

[@Blossomandbranch]

zone doesn't pertain to first and last frost dates but rather to how extreme temperatures get--specifically by the average annual minimum winter temperature in a given area, with each zone representing a 10-degree Fahrenheit range.

[@mamma8786]

I use clover . However I bought clover and radishes came up 🍀. We will make do LOL.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Haha oh dear!!

[@barbaravanerp4598]

I can’t find the link to alfalfa kickstarter

[@Blossomandbranch]

Posted in the description now, sorry!

[@barbaravanerp4598]

You rock

[@richardb4787]

I've heard of people throwing their urine in the snow, for a lush garden when the snow melts.

[@Blossomandbranch]

Well that's adventurous!

[@mycrazyfamilyid]

I sowed cover crops annnnnd the birds came and ate it all. 😭

[@Nurzleo]

Difficult to follow or understand. You're talking way too fast.

[@Blossomandbranch]

There’s subtitles ;)

[@mycrazyfamilyid]

Click the little icon that looks like a cog/gear and adjust the speed. :)

[@Texes7777]

I could never live in Colorado too many liberals and cold but overall they go hand in hand lol!

[@Blossomandbranch]

I mean, California would disagree with that statement but OK! Hope you enjoy the video about....gardening

[@lilyrudnytska5421]

Oh my, that channel's promo is soooo aggressive and soooo annoying. I've listened once and now it's everywhere and an everyday ad break occurrence. I wish I knew how to get rid of this channel's promotion. I can't take it anymore.

[@gardeninginthedesert]

Tap the 3 dots and tap not interested and don't show this channel.

[@Blossomandbranch]

We don’t do ads on other channels so not sure what you’re referring to but sorry you’re bothered!

[@ShaonYouTubeSpecialist]

Sir your video quality is very nice, but you don't have a thumbnail and video seo is not good so you are not getting enough views, I want to be manager of your channel, I will rank video and design intro, outro, super thumbnail.

[@Blossomandbranch]

I'm good thanks!

[@trinawilliams1395]

I'm going to sign up for the cover crop class tonight so I was especially interested in this video. Can you explain what the "shoulder seasons" are please? I've already got a pretty dense cover crop going so I'm really lookimg forward to learning the best way for me to terminate it and the best time. Thanks Bree!!

[@Blossomandbranch]

Shoulder seasons are the seasons in either side of the frost free season-so, Early spring and late fall; when normally the garden would be empty!

[@tanyakilbane7636]

Mud season

[@veronicadoggone5660]

You also don't need a ton of compost. I had to learn that thru trial & failure 🤷‍♀️. Your vidoes have helped me understand & use cover cropping & how just a shovel of compost can be plenty. 👍🏻🫶🏼

[@Blossomandbranch]

So glad to hear! It's absolutely true, compost is an amendment and not a growing medium!

[@eb1684]

Very nice. Don't you think every day is too frequent?

[@Blossomandbranch]

Depending on your climate--daily will create the fastest compost and keep the heat up, especially in cold areas! Plus it's a great winter workout ;)