The Gary Null Blog

1. If you can not use finished compost for a while, cover the pile with a tarp to avoid leaching the nutrients out of the compost. 2. Companion planting is an excellent way to improve your garden. Some plants replenish nutrients lost by another one, and some combinations effectively keep pests away. 3. Dry your herbs at the end of the summer by tying sprigs together to form small bunches. Tie them together with a rubber band and hang, tips down, in a dry place out of the sun. Keep the bunches small to ensure even circulation. Store dry in labeled canning jars, either whole or crumbled. Freezing is also a good way to preserve herbs. 4. Water in the morning to help avoid powdery mildew and other fungal diseases that are often spread by high humidity. 5. The longer the growing season, the more compost is needed in the soil. A longer growing season requires more nutrients and organic matter in the soil.