What is the best way to prepare my garden for next years garden?

Should I chop up my plants and just add them back to the soil, should I compost them first and then add them to the soil? How should I best prepare my garden for next years garden in Montana?

What is the best way to prepare my garden for next years garden?
Chopped, shredded, composted,or burned, any added organic matter turned into the soil will improve the soils nutrients and also water holding ability not to mention workability. My feeling is nature knows best when mellowing the soil so I plow everything under in the fall after everything harvested and let the winter snow and the freezing and thawing of the winter months do her magic. Since you are in "Big Sky" country I'm sure you'd have no problem finding some livestock manure. Adding this to you garden plot and turning it under for the winter is an excellent way to add nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil. Watch out with the horse apples though. They're "HOT" so use less but they also add humus to the soil. Come spring till and you'll be amazed at how mellow and easy working the soil is. Like coffee grounds! Good gardening!
Reply:cut down all the plants (after harvest), let them dry and burn them when they are dry. This will improve the soil fertility and ultimately, the soil productivity will be high... you will have good harvest next year.
Reply:compose them over the winter and til your soil so it will be ready in the spring..use the composte in the spring when you plant.
Reply:Till the soil now.
Reply:when the season is over , remove all the old plants ,discard any weeds or sick plants and if you have access to one run thru a shredder. then add it back using it to protect perennials . cultivating in the fall is also good esp. if you have heavy soil. to be honest all the organic material you can add right now is well rewarded next year . maybe use the lawn clippings you can bag now till the freeze . i use grass quite alot as it is so very high in nitrogen. yes you may get a bit of grass coming up from seed but the price is small to the benefit.
Reply:I always chopped up all of my plants and put back on the garden in the fall and tilled them in.. maple leaves if you have them are a great addition to the garden.. grass clippings also are a great addition.. really builds up the soil.. If you can't chop the materials up small enough.. so it don't clog up your tiller till first and throw them all on after tilling.. and then they will deteriorate over the winter.. I also add peat moss to my gardens every fall makes the soil easier to work with.. then till again in the spring and your garden will grow perfectly once again.. I also spread grass clipping and leaves on in the growing season to prevent weeds from growing.. it all will work its way back into your soil and build it up each year.. remember no meat or anythiing in gardens..


all other table scraps and stuff can be added. but cover them with dirt.


If you go fishing alot put your fish heads and guts in the garden also.. makes sweet corn grow great.. but plant deep also attracts bears to the garden..


wish you lots of luck with your coming garden next year.
Reply:Put hay on it. By hay , I mean alfalfa. It adds tons of fertility to your soil.

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