B20 - The Canadian Champion, Friday, September 5, 2008 Gel a jump on your spÀng gardening chores by starting in the fail Wby not sborten your tist of spring gar- ttening cbores by doing some of tbem in tbe fait? Cteaning tbe garden and preparing the soit now wili betp yau bave a beaitby veg- ctabtc garden next year. t-irst of ait, barvest the iast of yuur tender vcgctabtes -- tomatoes, peppers, eggptant and cucumbers. Leave tbe hardier vegeta- bics sucb as parsnips, cabbage and Brussets sprouts but protect tbem from tbe cold witb mutcb, clear plastic over frames, or cold frames made from recycied windows. Remove decaying plants and plant titter to tise composter. This wilt etiminate over-. wîntcring sites for insects and disease. tnspcct tbe roots of tbe plants you remave for signs of problems underground sucb as nematodes. Ibese tiny roundwormns feed and lay eggs on the roots of plants. They cause ait kinds of probtems including mat- formation of plants, die back and roat knots. You can try metbods sucb as crop rotation and companian planting ta, contrai tbem wben you plant your garden tbe following year. Turu yaur garden over where tbere are no remaining plants. This cani reduce pest probtems for tbe next year by mnterrupting tbe life cycle of the insects in the ground. Eggs, grubs and pupae die when exposed ta, cold or teft tn tbe open as food for bungry matter takes mantbs ta, break dawn, the bords. ideal urne ta, add it ta, your soit is fait. Tilling aiso hetps break up the rough soit Hetping aiong the way are ait sorts of bee- of a new garden. Winter's freezes and thaws ties, worms, fungus and bacteria. Seen or will further crusb these churned up chunks. unseen, tbey are warking away ta, improve Add organic matter ta, your garden. your soit Organic matter or humus -- if you prefer -- The cald winter and spring tbaw aiso, inctudes manure, leaves and kitchen waste. helps in decomposition. Tbis naturat For a truly fertile vegetable garden, try ta, process of deesy and digestion does severat add several incbes of humus. Since organic things for your garden soit. Minerai nutri- ents are restored and micro-organism growtb is spurred on, whîcb beips dissolve the minerai, nutrients for better absorption by plants. Soit texture is also improved, makîng it easier ta, work wîtb and enabling it ta, bold moisture. One thing yau can easity do to help your garden cornes when you are raking fait teaves. Instead putting out with the garbage, make a pile, run over them with your tawn- mower and then put tbem in your garden. Fait is aiso an excellent time ta start a cover crop. Though it is usuatty grown mosi frequently on large farms, a cover crop aiso bas value for the smatt gardenter. A cover crop can work as a fertiiizcr. Roots of nitrogen-ftxing cover crops or tegumes -- such as berseem ciover and bairy vetcb -- are cotonized by bacteria tbat pull nitrogen rigbt out of the air. When you tilt these plants into your gar- den tbey add mucb-needed nitrogen ta, your soit. Grass caver crops -- wbicb inctude wbeat, oats and rye -- aiso suppiy some nrrogen ta the garden. Althougb tbey don't coltect it from the air, it is supptied wben tbe grasses break dawn in the garden. Tbe two main benefits are the addition or arganic matter ta tbe garden and tbick, fibrous, shallow root systems wbicb are good for breaking up bard-packed soit. IT'S EASY TO BE GREEN IN BURLI. GTON F -- - 79 BURLINGTON'S FIRST CONDOMINIUM TO USE RENEWABLE ENIERG XLUSIVELY, &~rn eyWOODS $274,900 Presenting AppWeby Woods, a revoufionary development from Del Ridge Homes, Located in pictureque ' ERGSAISMANH EO E AVG, Bwflnton ai the cornr of Upper Mldl Road and Applsby Lmn, Appleby Woods ls Burlingtonis W ItrafGENTEHOOY A AE O RE and only development that uses zero non-renewable resources. From its ecokogcatlyiendly building o wocrwo rdMtii rudsuc mafenals ta ita energy saving design it is truy a landmark achievemnent and a commnitmnent to sust&arbllly.f âcso a b nwh tu ir haigam ol Enerbuild 7000 - energy efficient building Lage suites up to 1,282 squam eW 0n 1'ýExceptional festures and finishes with 2 bedIOrns plus donD ~,Includes stainless steel appliance package, OAose to shopping, golf courses, hoghway acceas, granite courotertops, underground parking restaurants, eritertainmrent and lesure actites & storage ut 9 If. ceilings HWY 407 GEO flv,,.CotinRs .ddcd h, ME~ MM«O DUNOAS ST, b «çewo w âc Iibv0 r»DlR,9Ebo 1PE -IDE & ALES OFFICE HOURS: BY APPOINTMVENT ONLY. OW w.p lb w o sc n e 1.87.79.44 Î L à-