Gardening: Cultivating the Bond Between People, Plants, and the Environment

It is late November and gardening is still going on! Pull out your gloves, the garden rake, shovel, and garden cart or wheelbarrow.

This is the perfect time to create new beds or add to existing ones. First question: What can we do with used garden bed soil? We can reuse garden soil by mixing it with compost for new garden beds. We can use it as a base for raised beds or spread it to level low spots in the lawn. It’s also useful for filling pots, creating paths, or giving it away to neighbors or friends who may need it. This gardener uses old garden soil to improve drainage in areas that need it. It can be used around trees and ornamental shrubs. Finally, old soil can be mixed into the compost pile to be reused later.

Second question: What do I do with the garden beds? First, test the soil. Before amending the soil, determine the soil’s specific nutrient content and pH level with a soil test. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Soil, Water and Forage Testing Laboratory provides this service for a nominal fee. Contact your local AgriLife Extension office for sample packets and instructions.

Next, if your garden beds are not hügelkultur (I will explain that next week), the single best thing you can do for the heavy clay soil most often found in Falls County is to blend in organic matter, such as compost or well-rotted manure. Add 2 to 4 inches of compost to the surface and till it into the top 6 to 9 inches of existing soil. This improves soil texture, its nutrient value, and water holding capabilities. Note that adding non-composted materials like fresh manure or raw sawdust can damage plants or rob the soil of nitrogen, so use only well-rotted materials.

So many leaves! In Falls County, there is more than one leaf-falling period. Leaves improve soil and can be used for mulch and compost. In the Fall, leaves can be used to nourish the garden, insulate plants, and suppress weeds. Did you know one can create a special type of compost called “leaf mold,” which is excellent for improving soil structure? Leaves can be raked or not. Either way, leaves enhance our environment and protect wildlife. Raked leaves can serve as insulation when piled around the base of tender plants, like hybrid tea roses, where they insulate the plant’s roots from the odd winter freeze. Raked or not, leaves serve as a critical habitat for many animals during the winter, providing a safe place for the critters to winter- insects, amphibians, and small mammals. Leaves raked onto perennial beds protect plants and enrich the soil, while leaves left on the ground offer shelter, food, and places for insects to overwinter before becoming food for birds in the Spring. Leaves are a garden’s treasure!

What do I add to the soil? The generally heavy clay soils often benefit from the addition of gypsum (about 3 to 4 pounds per 100 square feet) to help loosen the soil structure and make it more workable.

Work the soil when it is moist but not wet to avoid creating large clods and rough soil. Spading the soil in the winter can help the winter temperatures and moisture mellow the soil for spring planting.

Note on using raised beds: If there are areas with poor drainage, consider building a raised bed and filling it with a quality soil blend (e.g., a mix of loam/sand and composted material).

Final word: It is always a great time to collect your vegetable scraps for composting.