How to Improve Soil Quality in Your Garden in Winter

After you’ve washed your beds and removed the hose and most of the tools for the season, you might think there is nothing else you can do to prepare your garden for spring success. But this is not the case.

All the attention can be given to the plants, but what really matters is the soil in your garden. And luckily, there are things you can do to help him during the colder months. In an article for Family Handyman, Maria Webster suggests several ways to improve the soil in winter. Here are some of them.

Plant a cover crop

As the name suggests, cover crops can be planted to protect the soil in your garden during the winter. “Over time, a cover crop regime will increase the soil organic matter, resulting in improved soil structure, stability, and increased ability to retain moisture and nutrients for plant growth,” according to the USDA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service .

Spread out a layer of mulch

While you can think of mulch as something that is used in landscaping to prevent weeds from growing (and it is), it can also act as a cozy winter blanket for your garden soil, Webster says . In particular, she recommends using organic mulch such as bark, wood chips, straw, grass cuttings, rice, and other seed shells. “In addition to protecting them, they return nutrients to the soil as it biodegrades, eventually creating more organic materials to feed the microbes,” she writes .

Other uses for compost

Of all these options, Webster says compost is best for your soil in winter (and the rest of the year, too). This is why :

Good soil is alive and full of microorganisms that form a complex symbiotic relationship with the root system of whatever you plant. They become the keys to each other’s success. These microorganisms need to eat and there is no better food for them than compost.

If you’re not composting yet, you’re in luck: Lifehacker has tons of articles on how to do it (both indoors and outdoors ).

For outdoor composters, Webster says it’s important to remember that cooler temperatures slow down the decomposition process, so chop your “browns” and “greens” into smaller pieces to help them decompose faster.

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