G.I.Y. Part 6: Final thoughts.
In a column in early February, I detailed my predictions for 2009 garden trends. Among them was GIY, or Grow It Yourself. The notion, for me, combined compelling issues such as saving money in tough economic times, an increased awareness on quality of food (fresh food tastes better and is more nutritious) and the big picture of knowing where your food comes from.

I began by detailing plant differences: annual vs. perennial, fruit vs. vegetable and herbaceous vs. woody. In ensuing columns, I discussed garden planning and design, bed preparation and planting, maintenance and harvesting.

Today's column is the last in the series and I'll wind up with protection, clean-up and thoughts about a 2010 garden.

Protection.
Usually I prefer to let nature takes its course and refrain from babying plants. No mulching of perennials for me. Nor do I rush around in the dark throwing sheets over impatiens and coleus and begonias. But if an early freeze threatens fruits and vegetables, I'm a firm believer in protecting plants.

Simple options include sheets of plastic, tarps, old bed sheets, light-weight blankets and spun-bonded polyester or polypropylene (also called floating row cover).

Clean-up.
Pull up annual plants and cut back perennials like rhubarb and asparagus. With the exception of tomatoes and insect- or disease-infected plants which should be discarded, add to compost pile.

Cover beds with and place around fruit trees, shrubs and vines (move mulch aside and then replace) 2" of compost, well-rotted manure, shredded leaves, or a combination. Because I'm a huge proponent of no-till, don't dig or till in material. Just let it decompose in place.

Don't prune fruit trees, shrubs or vines now. Dormant pruning in late winter/early spring is best for most plants but some, including blueberries and raspberries, can be pruned in midsummer just after harvest.

2010 garden thoughts.
I mean this…you are planning a garden for next year, right?

With any luck, you enjoyed some level of success–even in this trying season of cooler-than-normal temperatures and drought-like moisture conditions. There were some failures, most likely, but don't we learn more from mistakes? In any case, hopefully, you were hooked and plan to plant a garden next year.

Consider crop rotation which is, just as the name indicates, changing planting locations of annual fruits, vegetables and herbs from year to year. Following are persuasive reasons.
• Diseases or insects that plagued a certain plant (sometimes entire plant families) cannot repeatedly attack and will, after time, diminish.
• Plants have different nutritional demands on the soil and could deplete it of certain nutrients. (Although, as most gardeners know, legumes like beans and peas actually add nitrogen to the soil.)
• Plant roots grow to different levels in the soil and break up the soil in different ways which alters soil structure and microbial activity.
• Soil is the basis of the entire garden and all efforts should be made to ensure its sustainability.

And if enlarging the garden is part of the plan, now is perfect timing for bed preparation. Find the spot, get soil tested (if necessary), clear away weeds and turf, and add thick layer of compost, well-rotted manure and/or other organic materials.

This column also appeared in the Askov American, Askov, Minnesota, Kanabec County Times, Mora, Minnesota, and Pine City Pioneer, Pine City, Minnesota.