What I can do now for spring

[puglogic]

Hi all,

I just moved into a new-to-us house with a big, gently-sloping, empty, sunny backyard that will soon be the site of some wonderful garden mayhem (I envision raised beds, swales to catch water, perennial fruits, etc.)

But now it's fall, and much is frozen already. We're still paying two mortgage payments and so I don't really have any money to build the raised beds or fence off an area anyway.

Still, I'm feeling the jones to do SOMETHING out there, so come springtime I'll at least be able to get a few things growing. I think it might also help me feel more at home here -- I've been feeling a little lost without my old garden. Rootless.

What would you do? I've thought of maybe building a compost pile in the shape of my first planned garden bed (4 x 8') Is that dumb? I have access to lots of free well-rotted horse manure, leaves, straw, and brewery wastes.

[Rosemary]

This would be a perfect time to start killing the grass anywhere that you want a vegetable and/or landscape bed. You could do that with a compost pile as noted, or with sheets of cardboard covered with leaves and such.

Over the winter is the best time to prune trees as needed. I usually wait until a thaw in Feb/March so that I can somewhat easily move around the snow-covered yard. It's a lot easier to prune when the leaves are down, and easier to see the tree structure.

[Gardenarian]

I think making a compost pile where your raised bed will be is a great idea. You are so lucky to have access to all that good carbon and nitrogen!

You don't really need to build raised beds; you can just make piles of soil and plant in them. All that rotted manure etc. will be perfect.

You might want to keep your eye on craigslist and freecycle. It's not unusual for people to be giving away stuff that can be used to create in the garden - even broken concrete can make a pretty spiral herb garden. People often give away plants and cuttings too.

Another thing you can do to prepare is to get to know your garden a little better. You might want to run some simple soil tests on various areas (this can be as easy as filling a jar 1/2 full of soil, adding water to the top, shaking, and seeing how it precipitates.) Also gathering information on the sunlight and temperature differences in different parts of your yard. I got 4 thermometers from the dollar store and was amazed at the climate variety on my 7500 sf lot.

Planning, planning!

[herbgeek]

Soil test! Then, add amendments now to your planting area so it will be ready for spring. In the Northeast, amendments always include lime, but a soil test will tell you for sure what you need.

[jania]

I'd definitely start composting. This is also an ideal time to look over your property and really see what you have to work with. Watch the travel of the sun to catch which areas are more prone to shade (remembering the sun will be higher come spring and summer). I'd also do as much clean up and clean out as possible, getting rid of grass, weeds, perennials that you may not want come planting time (depending on how cooperative the weather is for you).

Then grab a mug of cocoa and dream! Draw up a few plans of your ideal garden, look through seed catalogs and gardening books, get ideas, walk around your neighborhood to see what looks successful in your area, visit a botanical garden if there is one close to you.

[ljevtich]

Start composting
getting popsicle sticks for naming the areas
taking out the library books to read up on techniques
map out a plan and formulate an action plan
pour over seed catalogs and dream.

[Amaranth]

You could build lasagne/compost beds in all the bed locations. Wooden sides could be added later if you like. The lasagne gardening book has info about what to include.