A Checklist for Closing the Garden

This morning’s snowflakes reminded me that it’s time to close up our garden.

As members of a community garden, we have to abide by some group rules for tidiness, but also our city rules that require community garden plots to be cleaned up and put to bed by November 30.

Not only is tidying up the garden plots required, it’s a “make nice” action for our neighbors. They don’t necessarily want to stare from their kitchen windows at withered tomato vines clinging to half-crooked cages all winter long. Nor should they.

Preparing the garden plot for winter doesn’t take much effort, but it does take some time. I’m setting aside a weekend morning to do the following:

Harvest any last herbs and veggies that are clinging on for dear life

That includes some broccoli and cabbage, which can likely stay out in the garden through December. Might as well bring everything in and call it the last harvest for 2013, right?

Pull up all plant material

I will likely do one of two things with it:

– Place it all in yard waste bags for pick up by the city, or

– Chop or cut it into smaller pieces and place it in one or several long, shallow trenches. Here it will slowly decompose through the winter and early spring. A neighbor does this with some success, and I may try this technique this year.

Pull up all cages, stakes and other forms of plant supports

I’ll assess whether they need replacing for next season, in which case I will chuck them in the trash.

Clean up and remove trash

Yes, I have a pile of non-organic and non-recyclable items I’ve thrown in one spot of the garden, thinking, “Oh, I’ll take that out later.” Now’s the time to remove it before it tumbles into a neighbor’s yard during a Nor’easter.

Take home all garden tools

Now that the rhubarb, oregano and most all other leafy materials are cleared out, I can find those tools I’ve lost (hopefully) and bring them home for a winter’s cleaning.

Pile on the compost

My homemade compost still hasn’t made its way into the garden plot, but once the beds are cleared, spreading the compost onto the ground will be easy. I may need to buy additional compost to supplement my homemade stash.

Snap one last photo of the 2013 garden

It’ll come in useful when I’m sitting at home, cozy in a blanket, planning for next year’s garden plot.