Category: Garden notes

  • Composting with Trash bags

     

    Papa’s Garden Wisdom #2

    Turning Autumn Leaves into Golden Mulch Magic

    A daisy-trimmed, step-by-step guide to leaf mulch with black contractor bags.

    Step 1: Gather the Season’s Story

    Gather your tools needed.

    • Rake
    • Trash Bags
    • Pitch fork
    • hose compost (Optional)

     

    Rake leaves from lawns, paths, and beds. Remove twigs and cones. Shred with a mower if possible small pieces break down faster.

    Papa’s Tip: Shredding helps breakdown quicker.

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    Step 2: Fill the Black Bags of Possibility

    Use heavy-duty black contractor bags (3 mil+). Fill each bag about ¾ full with shredded leaves so there’s room for air and mixing.

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    Step 3: Add a Touch of Rain

    Moisten leaves until they feel like a wrung-out sponge. Too dry and they stall; too wet and they go slimy. Aim for damp.

    Papa’s Tip: If they crunch, add water. If they squish, add holes.

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    Step 4: Sprinkle in the Garden’s Secret Ingredients

    Add a handful of garden soil or finished compost for microbes. For speed, mix in a little grass clippings or a pinch of organic fertilizer (blood meal).

    • Soil/compost = microbial starter
    • Grass clippings = nitrogen boost
    • Organic fertilizer (optional) = accelerator
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    Step 5: Let Them Breathe

    Poke a dozen small holes around each bag — sides and bottom — to invite airflow and prevent slimy breakdown.

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    Step 6: Find a Sunny Spot to Dream

    Set bags in sun or light shade. Every few weeks, shake to mix and mist if dry.

    • 4–6 months: soft, earthy leaf mulch
    • 9–12 months: dark, crumbly leaf mold
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    Step 7: Spread the Magic

    Spread mulch around beds about 2 inches thick. For soil enrichment, work leaf mold into beds or use as a top-dress.

    “In every crinkled leaf lies a promise of what once fell from the tree and will rise again in bloom.” — Papa Sunflower
    Part of the Henchy Family Gardens series — where stories and seedlings grow together.

     

  • The Garden Note: #1 Garden Mapping 101 1/2

    🌿 The Garden Note 🌿

    🗺️ The Importance of Garden Mapping🗺️

    By Raquel Henchy — Keeper of Seeds & Stories

    When it comes to gardening, success doesn’t just come from good soil and sunshine — it also comes from planning. One of the most useful tools every gardener can use is a garden map.

    Whether you’re growing in raised beds, rows, or containers, mapping out your garden before planting sets you up for a more abundant, beautiful, and stress-free season.

    🌿 What Is Garden Mapping?

    Garden mapping is simply creating a visual layout of your garden space before planting. It can be as simple as a sketch in a notebook or as advanced as a digital plan. A map helps you organize where each crop will grow and allows you to make thoughtful decisions instead of planting on the fly.

    🌻 Why Garden Mapping Matters

    1. Maximizes Space

    No more guessing where to put your tomatoes or realizing too late that your cucumbers crowded out your lettuce. Mapping ensures you use every inch efficiently.

    2. Helps with Crop Rotation

    Planting the same crop in the same spot year after year can drain the soil and attract pests. A map lets you track what grew where so you can rotate properly, keeping soil healthy and plants strong.

    3. Prevents Overcrowding

    It’s easy to underestimate how large plants will get. A map keeps you from planting too close together, improving airflow and reducing disease.

    4. Keeps Sun & Shade in Mind

    Tall plants like corn or sunflowers can cast shade on smaller crops. Mapping ensures each plant gets the right amount of light.

    5. Simplifies Succession Planting

    Want to plant spinach in spring, then beans in the same spot later? A map helps you plan out the timing and space for multiple plantings.

    6. Tracks Your Progress Year to Year

    Your map becomes a garden diary. Looking back helps you see what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve next season.

    🥕 How to Make a Garden Map

    • Measure Your Space – Note the dimensions of your beds, rows, or containers.
    • Sketch It Out – Draw a simple layout with boxes or shapes representing your growing areas.
    • Mark Permanent Features – Trees, trellises, walkways, and greenhouses should go in first.
    • Plan Plant Placement – Place taller crops where they won’t shade smaller ones. Keep companions together (like basil near tomatoes).
    • Consider Timing – Leave room for succession planting — early crops out, summer crops in.
    • Label Clearly – Write crop names on the map so you know exactly what’s where.

    🌸 Tools You Can Use

    • Paper & Pencil – The simplest way!
    • Graph Paper – Makes spacing easier.
    • Garden Journals – Many include mapping sections.
    • Online Tools & Apps – Some garden apps let you drag and drop plants digitally.

    🌿 Final Thoughts

    Garden mapping is more than just organization — it’s a way to set yourself up for success, abundance, and peace of mind in the garden.

    Think of it as your blueprint for a fruitful season. 🌻

    ✨ Just like tending your plants, tending your plan brings better harvests.

    Share your garden map with us! Tag @henchygardens or visit
    HenchyGardens.com 🌿henchyfamilygardens

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