With the cold winter months just around the corner, many Iowa gardeners are wondering how to best prepare their plants for the impending frosty weather. In order to prevent the deaths of numerous different plants, precautions must be taken, and Ajay Nair of Iowa State University Extension has advice for gardeners to resist soil erosion during the winter.
"Don't leave the soil uncovered," Nair says. "We want to cover the soil so soil particles do not move. You could put mulch material, you could spread compost, and that helps to keep the soil in its place. I would also like to add cover crops. If you decide to plant a cover crop this time of the year, cereal rye is a good option. See what your acreage is, get a little bit of seed, spread evenly, and simply rake it in and water."
During this hour Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe speaks with Nair and Aaron Steil of Reiman Gardens in Ames about keeping gardens healthy during the winter months, and they take calls from listeners.
