Week 30:

FALL CLEAN-UP IN YOUR GARDEN!

The storm this past week brought more of the same, constant wind and little rain. One of my first tasks after storms like this is to walk the garden and pick up sticks.

I walk the garden twice. I pick up sticks on the ground the first time through and pull sticks and branches from shrubs and perennials on my second. It is surprising how many twigs and branches can be found.

We have talked in the past of leaving the leaves for the organic matter and fertilizer that they contribute. I often move the leaves from areas such as walkways, driveway and garden beds near the house and leave them in the back shrub borders for the benefit there.

I have found that raking and moving leaves is much easier when they are still just a bit most from a past rain. They tend to clump together when moist and although a bit heavier it makes the work much faster to complete.