Should you plow your garden before winter? How and when to properly plow the soil in the fall

Experienced gardeners and vegetable growers know whether or not to dig up the soil in the fall: the rules of digging. Working the soil requires a responsible approach, and before deciding how to cultivate it, it's important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this method. Digging allows you to enrich the soil with mineral and organic fertilizers and loosen it. Weeds can also be removed in the process. Some people are against digging up the garden, and their arguments should also be considered.

Digging up the soil for winter

It's essential to dig up your garden in the fall before the coming winter. This procedure is essential for preparing the soil. The fall, during the digging period, is the ideal time. fertilization period manure, compost, and humus. Also, in farms where crops are regularly attacked by the Colorado potato beetle, mole cricketTo combat larvae, wireworms, and other pests, soil digging is essential. This procedure destroys the larvae hidden in the soil. To do this, plow the soil to a depth of up to 25 cm.

What are the benefits of cultivating the land in autumn?

Every gardener has a different opinion on whether or not to dig up their garden in the fall. Not everyone knows the purpose of digging. Some refuse to do so, while others, on the contrary, completely cultivate their plot. It's important to first understand the advantages and disadvantages of this procedure and then decide whether to dig up your garden in the fall. Advice from experienced gardeners will help you understand the intricacies of digging.

Pros and cons of digging

The main advantage of this procedure is the ability to cultivate the area, enrich it with minerals and organic matter, and loosen the soil. It's also an excellent method for controlling weeds, which germinate readily in warm autumn weather. The disadvantages of plowing should be kept in mind. The procedure is quite labor-intensive and time-consuming. Avoid digging in areas where it's not needed.

The soil is home to a large number of worms, spiders, various microorganisms, and fungi. Under a microscope, billions of living microorganisms can be seen even in a small piece. They live at different depths. When the soil is opened and turned, the local inhabitants change places, and some die.

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Weed control

Controlling weeds by weeding, even in a small area, is time-consuming. Digging up fertile soil helps effectively combat weeds. However, it's important to remember that while it won't completely eliminate them, plowing the area will significantly reduce weed growth.

Moreover, in addition to weed seeds, the soil surface will harbor fungi and other pathogenic bacteria that affect the crops grown in the garden. As cold weather sets in in the fall, all microorganisms will be killed by the low temperatures. Therefore, digging the soil in the garden is the best way to disinfect it.

Fertilization and soil deoxidation

Enriching the soil with nutrients and deoxidizing it requires mixing it. This can only be done by digging. It's best to use a shovel to add ash to the soil and control weeds and their seeds. Only a shovel ensures high-quality cultivation of the land, unless the area is large. Otherwise, you'll have to invest in a shovel substitute and use specialized equipment to till the soil.

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Is digging necessary in the garden?

Tilling your garden in the fall is essential, but this procedure should be done with extreme caution in your garden plot. Many gardeners mistakenly plough the area around the tree trunk with a shovel, as this is the most dangerous procedure for the tree. It destroys even the smallest roots. Therefore, digging up the garden for the approaching winter is not recommended. You can only lightly loosen the surface with a hoe.

Dependence on soil type

Before digging your garden in the fall, it is important to consider its features:

1. Clayey, loamy, and soil with a high groundwater table should be treated without tillage. A tilled area, with every pore and opening, will be filled with oxygen. This will help double the soil's volume. Soil enriched with oxygen and carbon dioxide more quickly removes decaying plants, forming beneficial humus. After planting in the spring, plants will be more resistant to frost and drought, and their root system can penetrate deep into the soil.
2. If the soil is light, loose, and rich in humus, it's best to loosen it shallowly with sand rather than dig it up. Digging is only necessary in areas infested with weeds. Deep tilling should be avoided regularly, as it negatively impacts the soil structure.

Plowing should be done before the cold weather sets in and the first snow falls. If you plow it along with the soil, the soil warming process in the spring will be significantly slower. It's also crucial to do it before the rainy season, otherwise the topsoil will become too compact.

When to dig a vegetable garden in autumn

Plowing the soil must begin before cold weather sets in, usually immediately after harvesting. Fertilizing the soil during this period affects the following year's harvest. Spring plowing is no substitute for autumn plowing. It should be completed before the heavy rains, as loosening the soil afterward will be impossible, especially in clayey areas. The ideal time to begin digging is considered to be late September and early October.

It's best to first use a rake and lightly loosen the soil after harvesting the previous crop. This will encourage weed germination. After a couple of weeks, all the seeds will have sprouted, and you can begin regular shoveling. If you skip deep tilling, you'll still have to remove the weeds, but it will require more effort.

What is the best way to dig?

The digging method depends directly on the crop being grown next year. For carrots, potatoes, beets, melons, pumpkins, and parsley, dig to a depth of approximately 30 cm. For tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, and radishes, a depth of no more than 10 cm is sufficient.

It's better to simply turn the soil over rather than over it—this preserves the local microflora. Any weed roots that are discovered should be removed immediately; under no circumstances should they be buried. Stony, hard soil should be dug up to two spade depths, turning the soil over—this method is used in extreme cases.

For digging you can use:

• In a small area, you can use a shovel. It's suitable for all types of soil, but it requires a lot of effort and time;
• Forks are suitable for obtaining a soft structure, which is considered best for young crops;
• The cultivator allows you to quickly loosen the area and destroy weeds.

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Processing a plot with a walk-behind tractor

When using a walk-behind tractor, it's recommended to replace the tiller with a tool with a wedge-shaped, oval, or flat edge. Large clumps will remain in the tilled soil; these should not be broken up, as they will not be adequately saturated with moisture and oxygen once the rains begin. Large clumps also help retain snow. The turned soil is enriched with nutrients, which positively impacts future crop yields.

Treatment of areas with trees

When digging near trees, be extremely careful not to damage the small roots. These are where new seedlings grow. It's best to loosen the soil in the last days of September. Digging depth should not exceed 15 cm. The treated area should be covered with mulch and dry leaves to protect the root system from freezing.

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Application of mineral fertilizers in autumn

When gardeners begin digging their plots, they apply fertilizer. Organic matter should be distributed among the beds where cabbage, cucumbers, and seedlings are planned. The amount of fertilizer should not exceed one bucket per square meter. Compost and manure are used. Mineral fertilizers are approved for all crops. The soil under mineral fertilizers should be dug to a depth of at least 20 cm. Liming is necessary if the soil is acidic.

Not everyone manages to complete all the work before the first frost. After harvesting cabbage, parsnips, or celery, don't remove the tops from the garden; chop them finely with a shovel and dig them in. This will become organic humus, which will benefit the plants in the spring.

Is it necessary to dig up the soil in the greenhouse in the fall?

Experienced gardeners recommend completely replacing the topsoil annually. This involves removing the top 10-15 cm and bringing in new soil. Not everyone understands the importance of this. It increases yields and reduces the risk of soil and plant diseases. Even with an understanding of the importance of soil replacement, it's not always possible to achieve this. In this case, the best option is to dig up the bed. Carefully remove any remaining plant roots and insect larvae.

During this same period, gardeners prefer to apply fertilizer. The type of fertilizer depends on the plants being grown in the greenhouse. The most commonly used are:

• manure;
• ash;
• compost;
• humus.

To improve soil fertility and structure, gardeners plant mustard in greenhouses after harvesting. It not only increases the yield of other crops but also effectively combats harmful microflora present in the soil.

When is it better to plow a vegetable garden: in spring or autumn?

Gardeners have different opinions about the best time to dig up their garden beds. Experienced experts explain why this procedure should be carried out in the fall. This will greatly benefit the soil. Digging up the beds is essential in areas where the soil is already poor. When the soil turns, weeds freeze over the winter and pathogens that cause diseases in garden crops are killed. Annual digging in the fall will increase yields and reduce problems during cultivation.

If you weren't able to dig up your garden in the fall, you can do so after the snow has completely melted and the soil is soft, ready for the upcoming loosening. This should be done following a few rules:

• the soil should not be frozen;
• the area must be dug in furrows;
• When loosening, you need to thoroughly break up the lumps;
• In the spring, it's best to cultivate the garden with a shovel. It will help thoroughly loosen the soil and break up any clumps that form.

Tips for beginning gardeners

Those who regularly work the land know that digging the soil to the same depth every year leads to compaction of the subsoil. To avoid this, a two-tiered soil digging should be performed every 4-6 years.

1. You need to dig to the full depth of a shovel blade and return the raised soil to the hole.
2. This will saturate the soil with essential substances.
3. Weed seeds will rot by spring.
4. The soil must be thoroughly cultivated. Avoid digging into overly wet or overly dry soil.
5. The shovel should be held in a vertical position, collecting a small amount of soil.

In the fall, the garden should be dug into 40-centimeter-deep furrows. Beforehand, the soil should be covered with compost and manure. First, dig the first furrow, followed by the second, which buries it. This ensures that all the nutrients are absorbed into the soil. Organic fertilizers can be added to the dug furrows.

Bottom line: to dig or not to dig

Digging the soil helps remove weeds and evenly distribute applied fertilizers. The process also destroys pests and rodent burrows. This helps increase the yield in the garden. You can choose between manual or mechanical tillage. To ensure successful digging and benefiting the soil, it's worth listening to the advice of experts and experienced gardeners.