[stephanie]

for me it is build new beds, make compost,draw up plans for where/what I am going to plant and when. Order the seeds and any other needed materials for those no so frozen/rainy/snow days.This year is also build a green house out of hog panels and clear plastic and scrap wood.Top off the current raised beds with compost,news print and wood chips, by April I should be close to done and about to put the first seeds in the ground once again. Of course there are always hold overs willing to take off and do about that time of year also. Those seed/plants are welcome to come up as well. Who else is doing winter prep for their gardens or expanding during this time? I think come spring I may have some Swiss chard and collard greens going nuts along with some garlic and lettuce. Seems to always be an onion or two that winter over.

 

[Tammy]

after a very unproductive garden last year, I've decided to change how I garden in 2013, so this winter is spent reading up on lasagna style gardening, will be building raised garden boxes, hoping to build a greenhouse similar to what you are describing, etc. I feel like I'm starting a garden from scratch again, which I guess I sort of am!

I do have one raised garden bed and will be putting in some lettuce transplants probably the end of February (from my sons science experiment)

 

[stephanie]

my first raised lasagna bed is what I keep my nasturtiums and asparagus in and it is still going strong after 4 yrs. hardly do any thing with it except pick the flowers and asparagus. this year I did top dress it with some horse poo and wood chips. need to build another bed or two again this year but right now we are in a deep freeze for the next week. looking at the low 20's maybe teen's

 

[PHONETOOL]

During the Fall / winter it's a good idea to start a compost bin I have so many leaves I don't know what to do my neighbors bring me their leaves and Starbucks saves coffee grounds for me. I would like to add other stuff like people have suggested I really need more green but in the city there are few stables and Ranches.

I'm also preparing my second gardening area and deciding on the third If I do the third area it will be potted plants. I guess I'm turning every Previously non-used area into a garden.

Here in Los Angeles there is no snow or frost but it is cold. I have lettuce growing but it is taking more time to mature it seems.

I've started some seeds indoors and outdoors in the mini greenhouse. As soon as they're ready i will put them in the ground let's hope it warms up.

 

[stephanie]

If you do an online search in the LA area you can bet there is a horse stable with in driving distance of you. they are just not some thing you find in phone books much. I just did a quick online search and it listed about 10 riding clubs/boarding stables with in the city limits.

 

[Science2tor]

I just got a trailer full of horse manure and wood chips to build some beds. Has anyone had an issue with wood chips sucking up too much of the available nitrogen? I know that cellulose takes nitrogen to break down. Should I leave the stuff to rot for a year? I am a retired biologist and I am long on the science but short on practical knowledge at this point.

 

[stephanie]

Is this a mixed up manure wood shaving/saw dust load from a stable? if so this need to sit about 6 months before adding to a garden and left to break down. but if it is separate loads one of manure and one of wood chips then the wood chips should not be mixed in and used as a top layer only as a barrier to weeds. the manure can be layered in with other things such as grass,leaves,straw,news paper.

 

[Science2tor]

Yes it is the mix from the stable. I will stick it in a new bed then and let it sit till the fall. Thanks.

 

[stephanie]

your welcome, I have horses/donkeys myself so was kinda suspect it maybe already mixed. horse manure breaks down pretty fast and isn't as hot as other manures. This is because horse digestive system just doesn't break every thing down as well as cattle,goats,alpacas or chickens. it can be used fresh to top dress rhododendrons,roses,blue berries and asparagus. They all love fresh horse manure on top of the soil. Of course I would cover the manure with wood chips(2inch size) so it doesn't look bad in the flower beds.