The Seasons of Your Garden - Version II
Spring is around the corner, with buds starting to peek out of trees and shrubs.
Have you ever wondered why we have seasons?
Did you know that nature knows what it is doing beyond what we think we know, and has a rhythm/time/space that cannot be prematurely forced?
There are 4 distinct seasons - depending on where you live - that flow from one to the next, creating the cycle of life in your garden. Each season represents an energetic signature. Use this to work WITH nature.
Spring
This is the season where the juices/sap of plants start to make it's way up out of freezing places in the soil the roots store it for winter. As the name implies: energy is springing up out of the ground, bursting forth new growth, reaching for warmth and light, out of winter dormancy. Spring starts in March and runs through April and May.
Spring is a good time for amending, fertilizing, and planting. I recommend getting your soils set with the nourishment they need for the coming summer growing season where they require the most energy and hydration. Depending on the plants you are working with, you will have different soil requirements.
It is ideal to do this in spring because you want to avoid stimulating growth when fruiting happens, or right in the heat of the summer. This is especially important for smaller, more tender fruiting plants like berries to avoid blowing out your crop with too much energy concentration. You don't have to worry about this with compost and soil additions no matter what season it is, just the fertilizers.
Summer
Summer is HOT. Your garden is in full swing during the summer season! All the sap and juices in your plants are brought to peak leafed out, and in full circulation. Summer starts in June and runs through July and August.
This is the time of the year it is important to make sure your watering system is efficient and working properly to ensure your plants have adequate water. Lack of water and over-watering can affect the health of your plants negatively.
It is a great time to lay mulch too, because it is drier and you can often beat out and cut down the weeds and their seeding. When you do things organically you are going to have weeding as part of your maintenance for the long haul. With mulching though - along with keeping the soil healthy - this will make it easier to weed and keep the weeds down. And the richer the soil the easier the weeds come out.
Fall
As the name implies, fall is when the leaves change color and start falling from the trees preparing them for dormancy. Fall is the winding down, slowing of growth from the peak of summer where nature starts storing energy for the coming winter. Fall starts with September and runs through October and November.
This is an ideal time for leaf cleanup, especially for those of you that have beautiful lawns. Keeping leafs off the lawn will help maintain it's beauty and color. This is also an ideal season for planting trees and shrubs, because the weather tends to be cooler and wetter depending on where you live.
Fall and spring tend to be similar in temperature and precipitation, except spring is ramping up growth, and fall is winding down growth.
Winter
This is the season of hibernation. Growth has stopped and nature is in a slower, more dormant state. Winter starts with December and runs through January and February.
Winter is generally a good time for pruning, especially deciduous tree pruning. Pruning when your plants are sleeping makes it easier to see the current underlying structure because there are no leaves making this harder to see. Also, the sap or juices of your plants moves down into the roots and lower into the ecosystem of each particular plant during the cold winter season.
Remember this isn't dogma and that rules apply to the context for what you have to work with. This is going to be unique based on the ecology of your particular garden. Taking into consideration plant types, soil, insects/animals, drainage, sunlight, shade, wind, moisture, precipitation, etc.
Do the best with what you got. As long as you are doing things with care and some basic common sense you don't have to do everything by the season.
Straight Up & Free with James D is a reader supported publication.
If you found this valuable and educational, and appreciate the craftsmanship and care I bring in providing this content, please consider upgrading your subscription to support my work. You can also give a gift subscription, or make a one time donation.
Thank you!