FoxFarm Blog

Putting the Fun in Fungi

What’s all this talk about fungi in the garden?  Isn’t a fungus a kind of plant disease?  Isn’t that what they make fungicides for?

Not so fast. Healthy garden soil is teeming with many species of beneficial fungi that attach themselves to plant roots, stretch out across the garden, and bring nutrients and water back to the roots.  Think of them as an extension of the root system itself.

That’s not all.  These brave little critters also help fight off disease and support other beneficial soil-dwelling microbes that actually take plant food (including our own FoxFarm fertilizers) and transform them into a form that is easier for plants to digest.  Most important, soil microbes can help plants withstand stress, like winter freezes and summer droughts. 

Mulch, Mulch, Mulch

We just can’t say enough about the wonders of mulch. If you do one thing for your garden this winter, get out there and spread a few inches of mulch around.  We’re partial to our Happy Frog Soil Conditioner—give it a try and let us know what you think.  We pack it with beneficial microbes, earthworm castings, bat guano, and forest humus.  It really is a meal for your garden, and a nourishing meal is exactly what plants need to keep them going through the winter.

A good mulch will increase drainage and prevent rot; suppress weeds; help control erosion; support healthy root growth; protect tender plants against frost; and give earthworms something to munch on.  What’s not to like?

Bareroots

Bareroot plants are the kind of plants that only a gardener could love.  A few twigs, some gnarly old roots, maybe one green sprout to prove it’s still alive.  And they don’t even come in pots—they’re just packed into dirt crates and you’re expected to fish around and find one that you like.  What’s up with that?

But bareroot plants are not only a great value, they also grow quickly because they don’t experience the shock of being transplanted from a pot.  This winter, you’ll be able to get bareroot asparagus, strawberries, fruit trees, flowering shrubs, and roses in bareroot form.

Before you rush out to the nursery to pick some out, get the ground ready.  Bareroot plants hate to be exposed to sunlight, so you’ll want to plant them as soon as you get them home—or at least keep their roots completely covered in soil until you can plant.

Dig a hole that’s just deep enough to give the roots room to spread out.  Mix half native soil with well-aged compost or our FoxFarm Original Planting Mix.  Add a little Peace of Mind Starter according to package directions, and you’re ready to plant.

Carefully spread the roots out and cover them gently with soil.  You may need to make a little mound in the bottom of the hole for the base of the plant to rest on; this depends mostly on the shape of the plant’s root system.  Cover it well, leaving only the branches or trunk above-ground.  Mark the area with a stake if you need to, and wait for spring!

Tree Planting

Winter is the perfect time to plant a tree.  While the garden is down to its bare bones, take a look around and find a good space where you can be sure a mature tree won’t interfere with power lines, rooftops, or pavement. 

Most trees in the nurseries this time of year are nothing more than sticks; ask nursery staff to show you pictures so you’ll have an idea of what the mature tree will look like.  There’s no need to spend the extra money on a larger tree; a smaller root system will probably adapt to your garden soil and catch up quickly.

When you get your tree home, dig a hole that is large enough that the container can fit into it comfortably.  Gently pull the tree’s roots from the container and set carefully in the hole, trying not to disturb the roots.  Fill in with a mixture of two-thirds native soil and one-third compost like our Happy Frog soil conditioner.  Add a little Peace of Mind Starter according to package directions, but remember, there’s no need to overfeed transplanted trees.

To stake or not to stake?  Don’t stake a young tree unless high winds threaten to knock the sapling over.  Otherwise, the tree will be healthier if it’s allowed to grow on its own. Always release a tree from its stakes after the first year.

Make sure the tree is watered, but don’t let water or wet mulch pile up around the trunk—it needs to breathe!

Winterize Your Garden

Now that winter’s almost upon us, it’s time to finish up a few garden chores and get the garden ready for a little hibernation.  Here’s what we’re doing:

Check drainage:   Winter rains can pool in low spots in the garden, creating boggy conditions and bringing on root rot.  A sturdy rake or a garden hoe may be all you need to level the ground and keep water from stagnating.

Feed if you need to:  Newly-planted bulbs could use some Peace of Mind Bulb Food to get them ready to bloom in spring, and in warmer climates, blooming ornamentals can be fed monthly all year long.

Plant a cover crop:  Don’t let vegetable beds sit empty all winter long.  If you won’t be doing any cool-season gardening, plant seeds of fava, vetch, or rye.  They’ll put down roots, fix nitrogen in the soil, smother weeds, and prevent erosion.  In spring, just till them under and plant.