Mindy McIntosh-Shetter

The other day I went to an herb sale and sat in a class called “Mulch Gardening.”

The goal, it seemed, of this speaker was to convince everyone to get rid of his or her tillers.

How wonderful that would be.

A garden produced without fossil fuel and a low carbon footprint – what more could a gardener ask for when it comes to creating a garden space?

A mulch garden is very similar to a lasagna garden but without additional layers every year. The first layer is created by simply mowing the ground and letting the cut vegetation remain there. No bagging, raking, or weeding the area and no digging. Sounds great so far.

The second layer consists of cardboard or newspaper. The corrugated cardboard works great but if you cannot find cardboard or do not have enough newspaper will work. When using the newspaper remember to lay down at least five to six layers and do not forget to only use Read the rest of this entry »

By Vanessa Richins

You may have been throwing away one of the best sources for mulches and composts.

During the fall and winter, many yards become filled with fallen leaves.

Most people rake them up, put them in garbage bags, and throw them away.

However, this is an excellent free source of garden nutrients that also keeps more waste out of the landfills.

All you need to do is prepare a leaf mulch. Simply create a pile of leaves that is 2″ thick, set your lawn mower on high, and make a few passes to make sure the leaves are chopped well enough. Don’t do this when the leaves are very wet, and don’t pile them too thick.

If you want to add nutrients to your lawn, you can Read the rest of this entry »

By Cindy Naas

It’s nearly that time of the year, much as I hate to say it.

It’s time to start thinking about putting the garden to bed for the winter.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as the days get colder. By using some of these ideas, your soil or planters will be in great shape for planting next spring.

1. Mulch – Yes, even in a vegetable garden, winter mulching is a good idea. Giving the soil a good covering of manure or compost will add needed nutrients to the soil and will also prevent some weeds from taking over the space. Spread manure or compost about 2 inches deep.

2. Compost – if you have the room, starting a small compost pile directly on the earth will do great things for your soil. Allowing a compost pile to Read the rest of this entry »