Follow these tips from the ºÙºÙÊÓƵ Arboretum's Good Life Garden.
- As a general rule of thumb, sow seeds at a depth two to three times their diameter.
- Pre-irrigate a week or two ahead of time to germinate weeds. Wait for weeds to grow, then remove them with a hoe. You’ll still get weeds, but not nearly as many.
- For a longer harvest, try succession planting by sowing seeds every two weeks or as long as soil temperatures allow.
- Sow cereal crops like oats, barley and rye this winter to increase aeration and organic matter; plant legumes like peas and beans to improve nitrogen content.
- Consider using straw mulch in your garden to conserve water. It’s easy to push aside when you are ready to cultivate, biodegrades easily and provides added soil nutrition.