If your backyard suddenly feels like a swamp one day and a concrete slab the next, congratulations—you’re dealing with clay soil in the fall. Gardeners either love it or loathe it, but everyone agrees on one thing: clay soil has a personality all its own. Once the temperatures drop and the leaves start to fall,…
11 Mulching Mistakes That Can Suffocate Roots
Mulch: it’s the unsung hero of landscaping, the cozy blanket your plants rely on to stay cool in summer, warm in winter, and free of weeds year-round. But here’s the catch—mulching the wrong way can turn that helpful layer into a suffocating, root-choking disaster. Gardeners everywhere make small, innocent-looking mistakes that can slowly strangle their…
How Cover Crops Boost Spring Yields
So, it’s the first warm day of spring, the snow has melted, and the scent of fresh earth fills the air. Farmers are gearing up, tractors are roaring to life, and hopes are high for a productive season. But here’s the kicker—some of the best spring yields actually start months earlier, before winter even hits….
5 Wild Edibles to Forage in October
There’s something almost magical about stepping into the crisp October air, basket in hand, ready to see what nature has quietly tucked away for you. Autumn is a treasure hunt for the senses—earthy scents, crunchy leaves underfoot, and the thrill of discovering edible treasures hiding in plain sight. Foraging in October is like rummaging through…
7 Fall Fertilizing Tips That Prevent Lawn Damage
If you think lawn care season ends when the leaves start to fall, think again. Fall is actually one of the most important times to fertilize your lawn—but do it wrong, and you could end up doing more harm than good. The cooler weather makes it tempting to hang up the garden gloves, but your…
How Crop Rotation Planning Starts in Autumn
You can smell it in the air—the crisp bite of fall, the crunch of leaves, and that unmistakable sense that the growing season has finally exhaled. While many farmers and gardeners start slowing down, the smart ones know this is when the real planning begins. Autumn isn’t the end of the farming year; it’s the…
10 Tools Worth Sharpening Before Winter
There’s something oddly satisfying about a well-sharpened tool—the clean edge of a shovel slicing through soil, the smooth glide of a hatchet through kindling, the satisfying snip of pruners that actually work. But as winter creeps closer, most of us shove our tools into the shed and forget about them until spring—dull, rusty, and miserable….
Why Rainwater Collection Is Easier in Fall
There’s something magical about fall—the crisp air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and the smell of rain drifting through the breeze. It’s the season of sweaters, pumpkin-spiced everything, and, believe it or not, the perfect time to start collecting rainwater. If you’ve been putting off setting up a rain barrel or diving into water conservation,…
8 Vines That Should Be Cut Back Before Snow
Winter may feel like a time to hibernate and forget about the garden, but your vines have other plans. As the temperatures drop, those leafy climbers are busy preparing to either thrive or take over once spring arrives. The difference? Whether you give them a proper trim before the snow flies. Cutting back the right…
How to Spot Overwintering Insects in Mulch
Here’s the thing about winter: while you’re bundling up and sipping hot cocoa, there’s an entire hidden world beneath your feet getting cozy for the season. That soft, earthy layer of mulch around your garden beds? It’s not just keeping your plants warm—it’s the equivalent of a five-star winter resort for bugs. Many insects use…