A student recently asked me in my local garden class, “What do you do with the plants left over in your garden at the end of the season?” Like most gardeners, I love having a neat, tidy garden once the growing season wraps up. But what if I told you that you can have both a clean garden and improve the soil for next season? The trick is to leave the roots in the ground. By cutting down large plants like tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, or cauliflower to soil level, you allow the roots to stay intact and continue feeding the soil microbes throughout the winter.
When you leave plant roots in the soil, they continuously release exudates—rich in sugars, amino acids, and other vital compounds—that feed beneficial microbes and foster a thriving underground ecosystem. For smaller plants like spinach or lettuce, you can simply pull them up, leaving the roots to decompose in place. This helps to enrich the soil with valuable nutrients, making your garden even healthier for the next planting season. Planting perennials like herbs that overwinter in your garden will also feed the soil through their roots.
In the end, you really can have a garden that’s both tidy and healthy. By leaving those roots in place, you’re not only cleaning up the garden but also giving back to the soil, setting the stage for a more productive growing season ahead. So, next time you’re cleaning up your garden, remember that a little mess underground can go a long way for your plants next year!
Happy Gardening,
Karen
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