There is a well-known category of gardeners who want to relax after harvesting. After all, during the spring-summer season, a lot of effort was spent on caring for plants, trees, and soil. And they believe that in the spring there will be enough time to prepare the beds for planting. This is a serious misconception. Autumn soil care is a necessary condition for obtaining a rich harvest next season.
Refusal to prepare beds in the fall
This serious mistake is made not only by beginners, but even by experienced gardeners who do not think about the consequences.
Many crops need to be planted in early spring. This means that the beds must be ready by this time.
If you postpone the processing of the beds to the spring, gardeners may not have time to prepare for the new season. And a long winter will disrupt all planting dates. It will not be possible to get a good harvest on time. Autumn work not only preserves nutritious soil, but also increases its beneficial properties.
In addition, mineral fertilizers applied in the fall will have time to dissolve and go into the ground over the winter.
Mistakes in digging soil
A serious mistake that not only beginners make is the annual autumn digging of beds. This is hard but useless work.
Microorganisms were distributed among the layers of soil so that it was convenient for them to exist.Some particles are drawn to light, others prefer deep layers. Digging will upset the balance and the organisms will die. And it will take time to restore the microflora.
Autumn digging is replaced by loosening to a depth of 5–7 cm. At the same time, it will be possible to free the beds from weeds.
If digging is chosen, it is not recommended to break the clods. They freeze well, and this destroys the larvae of pests overwintering in the ground. Over the winter the clods will crumble.
Are herbicides necessary?
Many gardeners fertilize the soil with herbicides in the fall, reasoning that the harvest has been harvested and the harm from chemical fertilizers is minimal. A lot of expensive equipment is being purchased and work is being done. Gardeners do not understand that they are making a mistake, missing the opportunity to use truly effective means.
What is the mistake of gardeners
Herbicides are not used for their intended purpose in the autumn. Their action is possible at temperatures above 10 °C. This means that they will not be effective when processing beds in the fall.
Green manure and mulch, as well as a proven remedy - a hoe, will help you deal with weeds.
Mistakes in preparing beds for different crops
Often gardeners do not think about what plants will be planted. And, despite the characteristics of the soil, the same preparation is carried out on all beds. This is a serious mistake that will be difficult to correct in the spring.
What to pay attention to when preparing beds:
- soil acidity;
- type;
- structure;
- predecessor cultures;
- bed illumination;
- location;
- applied fertilizers.
In the fall, clay soils are refined, acidic soil needs liming, and sandy soil is dug up once a year (in the fall). Crop rotation will only improve the quality of the future harvest. When preparing the soil in autumn, you need to know these subtleties.
Waste on the site is not fertilizer
There are still gardeners who leave rotten vegetables, spoiled fruits, yellowed parsley, and dried flowers in their garden beds, hoping that the garbage will rot and make good fertilizer. This is a serious misconception. Before the waste has time to rot, it will become a source of food for pests.
Analysis of these and other mistakes will help to avoid them during autumn tillage. Then in the spring the beds will be ready for the sowing campaign and will soon delight you with a good harvest.
