End Of Season... What Do You Do?

[patfish]

Just wondering what y'all do when the season is over and your plants are dead? I usually till them in the soil once or twice before the ground freezes for the winter. Is this good, or bad?

Any suggestions/alternatives/better ways. Just so my soil is good again next year....

Thanks

[patfish]

Interesting KK, thanks. Now I'm intrigued enough that I'll have something to do for the next 5 or 6 days while its raining. Research.

Research done!

http://www.homeadditionplus.com/yard-garde...zing-Garden.htm

Great, now I have to find something else to do....

[fly2fish]

If you had fusarium fungus or suspect your tomato plants had them, BURN THEM, do not till them in or compost them if you are going to use that compost for tomatoes next year. All other plants you can do as the others mentioned.

HC

[Trav]

I pull everything out and burn them with the fall leaves. Also, I don't disturb the soil until spring comes. It is just an old wise tale my Gramps always used to say.

I suppose it wouldn't really matter with my garden anyway since I have all raised beds and add fresh soil to them every spring.

Just what I do.

[jdmidwest]

I usually chop down the big stuff and pile in one corner and burn. Higher temps caused by fire can sterilize the natural bacteria in soil and kill it so I do it in an isolated area. I then spread ashes back over the soil as they contain the minerals leached out into the plants. I usually gather leaves and till them in to rot till spring. During the winter I spread ashes from the fireplace out over the garden also.

I like the idea of a cover crop. I have also covered with straw and tilled into it in the spring. You can also plant turnips for wildlife and people food and have a good cover crop.