Putting Garden Beds to Rest for Winter
Winter is approaching fast, and it’s time to think about wrapping up your garden beds. While many parts of the US are already in hibernation mode, there’s still important work left to do. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just starting, prepping your beds now can mean healthier soil and better growth in the spring.
In today’s post, I want to cover the essentials of preparing garden beds for winter, dive into some myths about mycorrhizal fungi, and touch on how AI is messing with farming advice. So, let’s get into it.
Weekend Recap and Transition
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, I hope you all had a fantastic weekend—whether it was filled with farming, relaxing, or doing what I did: soccer matches and nerding out on soil science papers. There’s no shortage of research to read on cover crops and fungi, and the more I learn, the more I realize how much we still don’t know.
But enough about my weekend. Let’s get into how to prep your garden beds for winter.
Prepping Garden Beds: More Than You Might Think
So, here’s the deal: You can’t just throw down some seeds, walk away, and hope for the best through the winter. Winter prep is crucial not only for protecting your soil, but also for setting up a successful growing season next year.
By mid-October, you’ve probably already made decisions about what stays and what goes in your garden until next spring. But if you haven’t, it’s not too late. Done right, your preparations will help prevent soil erosion, stifle weeds, and even enrich the soil over the winter.
When Should You Put Your Beds to Rest?
For most areas, as soon as daytime temps start consistently dipping below 50°F, it’s time to start winterizing your garden. Better late than never! The methods you choose depend on when you want to replant in spring and how much effort you want to put in now versus later.
Why Winter Prep Matters
Letting bare soil sit empty over winter can lead to a tragic loss of nutrients, structure, and microbial life. Erosion is real, especially if you’ve got heavy snows or pounding rain. Think of this like getting your car winterized — it’s more than just insurance, it’s setting yourself up for a smoother ride in spring.
Cover Crops: Yes or No?
Let’s clear something up. Cover crops are massively useful, but only if they’re implemented carefully.
The Risk of Sowing Cover Crops Too Late
One thing I see a lot is people chucking cover crop seeds without thinking through the timing. Here’s the problem: if you plant them now, your beds might have too much leftover biomass when you need to turn them for spring planting. A thick layer of cover crops like rye can get in the way, especially for crops that need direct seeding like carrots.
If you plan to plant early in the season and don’t want to fight with your cover crops come March or April, don’t plant them indiscriminately. However, if you’re pushing your seeding schedule into late spring, by all means, toss those cover crops down.
Which Cover Crops to Plant Now?
For those willing to plant late spring or early summer crops, there’s still time to get some cover crops in the ground. Here’s what works best in colder climates if you’re planting cover crops this late in the year:
- Crimson Clover
- Rye
- Austrian Winter Pea
- Field Peas
- Winter Wheat
- Mustard or Kale
- Lacy Phacelia
- Cilantro
The key here is to integrate legumes. They sequester nitrogen in the soil, giving your garden a nitrogen boost when you cut them down in spring. Use grains like rye more for weed suppression and their ability to create mulch. Remember, grains like rye can be a pain if you need your beds early, so proceed with caution.
Legumes for the Win
Legume-based cover crops are ideal because they decompose easily and feed plant-friendly nitrogen back into the soil. The beauty of legumes is that they’re not just hanging out through winter—they’re actively working to make your garden better.
If you don’t mind doing a little mowing or light tilling in spring, peas are a good exception to the “don’t sow late” rule. They’re easier to terminate than rye or clover and won’t wreak havoc on your spring crop plans.
Alternatives to Cover Crops: The Power of Mulch
Not everyone wants to deal with the extra step of terminating a cover crop before spring planting. Luckily, there’s another great option—mulching.
Straw, Hay, and Compost: What’s Best?
A nice weed-free mulch is a solid go-to for tucking in your garden beds. Straw and hay work well, but they’ll keep your soil cooler, so keep an eye on that next spring. Beds under heavy mulch take longer to warm up—great for Southern growers but not ideal for Northern climates where winters feel like they last forever. If you use mulch, just know that your spring plantings might start a little slower.
If you can get your hands on some nutrient-dense compost or heavily decomposed wood chips, now’s a great time to use them. They’ll break down over winter and integrate into your existing soil. Not only will this suppress weeds and stabilize the soil, but it’ll also leave you with rich, nutrient-packed beds come spring.
Next Update: DIY Organic Fertilizer Recipes
What Happens if You Leave Soil Bare?
Letting your soil sit naked and exposed during winter is inviting disaster. Without cover, you’re opening the door to:
- Soil erosion
- Loss of organic matter
- Weed infestations
- Reduced microbial diversity
- Weak soil structure
That’s a lot of bad stuff to handle, and it’s just not worth the risk.
Using Tarps or Plastic Mulch: Last Resort?
If you’ve got nothing else, plastic tarps can be a decent option. Yes, it’s not ideal, but it’s better than letting the soil go bare. To get the most out of tarps, try to add some mulch underneath first. Even a thin layer of chopped leaves will do.
Remember to Feed Your Soil
There’s one golden rule when prepping your beds: feed your soil at all times. Bare soil will start consuming itself to survive, and that only leads to long-term problems. So, whether you use cover crops, compost, straw, or anything else—ensure the soil has something to munch on through the winter months.
Transition to Understanding Mycorrhizal Fungi
Now that your garden beds are tucked in for the winter (at least in theory), let’s move on to a hot topic: mycorrhizal fungi. You might think you know these fungi, but we could be getting a few things wrong.
Mycorrhizal Fungi: What Are They Really?
Mycorrhizal fungi are like the secret superpower of the soil. These fungi form relationships with plant roots, helping them pull more nutrients and water from the soil. Think of them as the long-reaching arms of the plant’s root system—basically little helpers delivering food and water.
These fungi even allow plants to communicate with each other. Yep, plants can send out signals through the fungi when they’re under pest or disease pressure, giving neighboring plants a heads-up.
Some Plants Aren’t Fans
You’ve probably heard that certain popular garden plants—like broccoli, beets, and spinach—don’t form these symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi. That’s… kind of true and kind of not. You see, recent research is showing us that the situation isn’t so black and white.
Even plants thought to be non-mycorrhizal can sometimes be found associating with mycorrhizae under certain conditions. We’re still uncovering all the nuances of these relationships.
Misconceptions and New Discoveries
Scientists keep finding exceptions to the old rules. In some cases, plants that weren’t supposed to benefit from mycorrhizae were found with fungal structures intertwined with their roots. So, while broccoli, spinach, or beets might not have the same associations as tomatoes or squash, they aren’t completely out of the club.
Research published earlier this year even found that in some cases mycorrhizal fungi can penetrate non-host plants, though they might not offer the same benefits. We’re just scratching the surface of what’s going on in the soil.
Soil Aggregates: Why They Matter
While you might not be able to visually see these fungal structures at work, one thing mycorrhizae do exceptionally well is create soil aggregates. These are clusters of soil particles bound together, providing homes for microbes and holding water.
Aggregates are what give soil good structure, and they help manage water in times of drought and flood. Non-mycorrhizal plants can still benefit from these fungi indirectly, thanks to the overall improvements fungi bring to soil health.
Bill’s Patreon Question: Fungi and Soil Aggregates
One question from our community came from Bill Marshall, a Patreon supporter. He asked if non-mycorrhizal plants still benefit from the soil aggregates formed by mycorrhizal fungi, even without a direct relationship.
The answer? Absolutely. Soil aggregates improve soil structure, nutrient availability, and water retention—things all plants benefit from, even non-host ones. Good soil structure is a universal win when it comes to growing strong, healthy plants.
Messy AI and Misinformation
Switching gears just a little, I want to talk about how the new AI features in Google are shaping farming information. On the surface, the idea of AI answering your queries sounds great—quick, easy answers with sources right there in front of you.
But there’s a problem. AI sometimes offers incomplete or even wrong information. For example, when I searched for info on bare soil during winter, the AI first gave me a response painting fallowing in a positive light. It missed the part about how bare soil loses nutrients and microbial life. When I adjusted my search by adding the word “study,” the response improved significantly, and the sources got better.
Tips for Better AI Searches
If you’re using AI for research, make sure you’re using specific, study-based queries. Adding the word “study” or “research” to your search can lead to more accurate and detailed results. Consider fact-checking the sources too. Don’t take the AI’s word as gospel—its results are only as good as the info it’s pulling from.
Why This Matters
There’s a risk that AI will spit out answers people want to hear—thanks, confirmation bias—without digging into genuine research. That’s a big problem when it comes to making informed decisions about farming or any topic where lives or livelihoods are on the line. Always question the sources behind the AI’s answers.
Wrapping Up: Final Thoughts and Shoutouts
Winter is a critical time for soil health, and now’s your last chance to get it right before the cold truly sets in. Whether you’re sowing cover crops, laying down mulch, or playing it safe with tarps, take the time to care for your soil.
And don’t forget, there’s still a lot to learn about what’s going on underground with mycorrhizal fungi. Science is constantly evolving, and it pays to stay curious.
Finally, a massive thank-you to our Patreon supporters; your questions and feedback keep the content flowing. Special shoutouts to some of our recent members helping us continue this work. We couldn’t do it without your support!
If you have any thoughts, leave a comment or hit us up on the Patreon community thread. And remember: feed your soil now, so it feeds your plants later!
