Get your winter garden working behind the scenes, so you don't have to

How to build better soil in mid-winter without effort, and set it up for a thriving spring

It might look quiet out there - the tomato vines are long gone and bar the regular winter culprit, a lot of your garden beds may be feeling a bit empty. And maybe, like many gardeners, you’ve stepped back to let the garden rest until spring. However mid-winter is the perfect time to tend to those empty beds and give your soil a pick-me up, so that when spring arrives you feel prepared instead of behind. The best part about giving your soil some winter love now is that it doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming - in fact all you have to do is the easy work so the worms can do the heavy lifting.

The simple foundations of winter soil care

Uncovered soil is never an ideal situation in a vegetable garden even in the depths of winter, so if you find yourself needing to protect and nourish your gardens while you wait for warmth, here are a few tips.

First of all, don't disturb the layers too much with deep digging

I'm certainly not of the school that we shouldn't dig at all - after all when we harvest tubers it is imperative we give the soil a good turn over, and this process helps with soil consistency if used within a crop rotation system. But if you’re in the habit of double digging or completely turning over every single bit of bare soil you see, it might be time to let that go. Although digging can feel productive (and it often is), when done without thought or intention it can disrupt the natural structure of the ground by breaking fungal networks and compacting layers, creating more harm than good.

So if you feel your soil needs working, just use a garden fork to aerate it using a twisting motion rather than a digging action, taking care not bring the lower quality soil from beneath up to the surface. You are gently trying to create a healthy soil structure to increase airflow - without too much intrusion. The bonus is this way is less work for you!

The next thing is to cover the soil, as bare soil is very vulnerable. It dries out, leeches nutrients and erodes. In nature, you’ll rarely see exposed ground - there’s always something growing, or a natural mulch covering it, and our gardens do best when we mimic that.

So give it a winter blanket with:

• Homemade compost

• Aged animal manure

• Mulched branches or stems (aged or composted wood chips are better than fresh as you don't risk them depleting the soil of too much nitrogen as they decompose)

• Grass clippings

• Aged leaves, straw, or hay

If your beds are dry (not likely if your in NZ right now!) make sure to water the soil first before adding the mulch layer - moisture is key to getting the decomposition process going.

The other option is to grow a quick cover crop like mustard seed, which can be dug into the soil in spring. This is a wonderful way to improve soil structure while nourishing it at the same time, and repel some pests - mustard in particular is very good for clearing a garden of wireworm.

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Three simple, actionable steps you can take right now to boost your gardens and prepare them for summer

Here in the southern hemisphere, we’re about six or seven weeks out from the start of spring, and although it isn't the best gardening weather right now, this is actually the ideal window to set your garden up for a strong, nourishing season ahead.

Below is three easy jobs you can do now, that will boost your soil and prepare it for summer.

Worms will do an amazing job of breaking down organic matter

1. Trench bury your kitchen scraps

This is perhaps one of the simplest ways to add fertility fast to a garden bed. All you need to do is dig a trench in a vacant garden and slowly fill it in with veggie scraps. Make sure your trench is about 15 to 20 centimetres deep, and just add your vegetable scraps (avoiding meat, dairy, and citrus) as you accumulate them. With each addition of scraps, cover and mound up that part of the trench with soil, then top with a thick layer of straw.

By burying the scraps, you keep pests out and allow worms and microbes to break them down right where your future plants will grow. You will be surprised how quickly you can plant into the bed keeping in mind the scraps don't need to be fully decomposed before spring planting.

Top tip: try to arrange the trench where you plan on growing a row of something hungry (like sweetcorn or pumpkins). They will love you for it!

(P.S. I know earlier I said no deep digging, but this is slightly different as there is a direct purpose, and you are feeding your garden with superfood goodness that will benefit the crops grown above - just try not to dig too far past the topsoil layer)

2. Build a compost layer directly on your bed

If you’ve got a garden bed sitting empty that needs nourishment and building up, you can layer organic matter directly onto the soil to make like an in place compost that will turn into rich nutrient filled soil over time.

Start by aerating the bed if it needs it, gently with a garden fork. Then alternate layers of green and brown materials, finishing with a generous layer of straw or mulch to keep it tidy and insulated. Water each layer as you go.

Some ideas for what to use:

• Greens: fresh grass clippings, manure, soft green weeds

• Browns: mulched stems, wood chips (untreated), straw, ripped cardboard

Over the coming weeks, this layered mix will break down naturally and nourish your soil deeply, right where you need it.

Tip: Normally with compost you would put spent seedling/old plant etc in, but as we are essentially creating a rich soil that will be planted into this season, choose materials for your layers that are quick to break down.

3. The simple option: manure and mulch

If time and energy are short, this is a quick and effective way to feed your soil with very little effort.

Start by giving your bed a light aeration with a garden fork if needed. Then spread a layer of aged manure across the soil surface, followed by a generous topping of straw or other mulch, watering well between layers.

This method feeds the soil microbes and worms while protecting it from rain, wind, and weeds, leaving you with rich, garden ready soil by the time spring rolls around.

Winter in the garden is certainly not sexy, but spending a small amount of time now feeding your soil, and protecting it will make all the difference come spring.

If time is lacking, I recommend choosing one bed to implement first - then if time allows, move on to the next. Tackle each area as you go and if you are really game, experiment with different techniques in different gardens so you can find what works for you and your garden the best. Happy gardening!

This homemade compost would make a perfect soil covering layer for winter, especially if covered with a thick layer of straw.