Marilyn’s Garden Musings

By Marilyn Rasmussen, Magic City  Master Gardener

“Last night there came a frost which has done great damage to my garden … It is sad that Nature will play such tricks on us poor mortals, inviting us with sunny smiles to confide in her, and then, when we are entirely within her power, striking us to the heart.” Nathaniel Hawthorne

When a killing frost strikes down the product of many months of hard work and diligence in the garden it is time to clean up the remains and prepare the beds for winter. Don’t just throw the dead plants away, COMPOST them. Although composting can be done at any time there is an abundance of materials in the fall which can be put in the compost pile.

The general formula for composting is: 3 brown + 1 green = black gold.

Brown, carbon-rich materials include dry leaves, plant stalks, small twigs, wood shavings and shredded newspaper. Carbon is the spark that starts the composting process. Nitrogen fuels the microorganisms that decompose the materials. Green, nitrogen-rich materials are fresh leaves, lawn clippings, fruit and vegetable scraps and peels, eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags.

Do not add meat scraps, bone, animal waste, dairy products, diseased plants, seeded weeds nor plants treated with herbicides or pesticides.

Chop garden clippings into relatively small pieces. Mix or layer approximately 3 parts brown with 1 part green materials in a bin, barrel or piled on the ground. Add some soil or sod (this contains microorganisms that will help start the decomposition process). Sprinkle with a small amount of water to dampen the mix without getting it too wet. Turn the compost pile once a week trying to incorporate the outer materials into the center. Keep adding kitchen scraps during the winter, they’ll decompose as the weather warms in the spring.

Although compost adds some nutrients to the soil its main benefit is the organic matter it adds to improve soil tilth. It improves the drainage and aeration of heavy clay soils. The best feature of this black gold is that it is FREE!

A gardening note: November is a great time to plant a tree while it is dormant.

“Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Warren Buffett

Composting formula taken from the Better Homes and Gardens magazine