Your outdoor gardening chores are probably finished for the 2025 growing season. There is still time to plant spring-blooming Dutch bulbs like tulips and daffodils, but don’t delay any longer. So, now is as good a time as any to think about improving your garden soil for guaranteed success next year.
We all grow our own organic matter to keep on site. Think of it as what comes out of the soil in the form of plants, which go back into the soil to generate nutrition for what will grow next year. There is more than one way to accomplish this cycle.
Throughout the growing season, any plant debris removed (think deadheading) gets cut up and laid back on the ground. This is probably the choice involving the least amount of work. If your soil is healthy, the air, rain, worms, bacteria, and other organisms will start the decomposition process. The debris must have contact with the soil to work, so it’s not a good choice for mulched ground.
Eventually, you will notice the three visible stages of decomposition. At first, you will be able to identify what is used to be: parts of leaves, stems, and roots. When you can recognize it as plant-based but not which part of the plant it used to be, it’s reached stage two. Eventually, your goal, it becomes finger-staining black humus, enriching the soil.
Naturally, not everyone wants to see garden debris spread out on the surface of the soil. No problem. It can be hidden under decorative mulch, or you can compost it all together in one out-of-the-way site, and move the finished organic matter back to the garden.
Composting in one place calls for more involvement from you. The debris has to be moved to the compost pile. To expedite the process, the pile should be turned occasionally to get needed oxygen to the parts at the bottom. And, when finished, the humus is transported and spread back on the garden.
A third choice is trench composting. Dig a trench/hole far enough off to the side so the plant roots aren’t disturbed. Place the garden debris in the trench and cover it up. Next season, plant close to or over the trench. This option works better in a vegetable garden where there is more room between plants.
The University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners of Edgar County wish you a happy holiday season and look forward to helping you in the new year.
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities. Illinois Extension is part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences.