I love in zone 8B and continue to mulch my garlic with my last mowing. This happens to be about 40% grass and 60% leaves from my neighbor's trees. It is a very fluffy mix and works well for my garden and my garlic.
Luke and staff, I say May God bless you. Ya all are really fired up about the garden! It's a blessing so very much to me and to others who are gardening. But even just to see your good examples of hard work and reward is so rewarding to us who get your videos! 😁🎶📝🖐️🇺🇸Thanks Guys!
I grew garlic for the first time last year and used pine shavings as mulch, it worked great. I actually use it for all my raised bed garden mulch needs since it is easier for me to lift/handle and we always have it on hand for our animals.
A little bird netting over the bed and tacked around the edges will keep light mulch from blowing away. I use straw that I run through my shredder/chipper and it works great.
@@cbosworth6808 I bought a Troy-Bilt 250cc chipper/shredder a few years ago from Home Depot....$700. I believe they are a little more expensive now. I've had very good luck with it so far and it didn't break the bank to buy it.
I use pine needles (straw) as bedding in my chicken coop🐓 and the pine shavings for my rabbits🐇; when I clean them out during the winter months, everything is going straight onto the grow beds in the gardens. Ever since I started doing this, my veggies have turned into monster sizes 😊 Was using pine needles as mulch last winter and they were withstanding our harsh winds unlike leaves or straw.
I'm zone 7A now and grew in zones 4 thru 5 for 20 years until the last 5 years. Use the leaves, lightly cover and use bird netting to keep the leaves from blowing away. Remember too much mulch risks holding a lot of moisture around the bulb and rotting. Garlic needs to vernalize and then go thru stratification to form the cloves that make up the garlic bulb.
Leaves to us are the best mulch. The only thing you need to do is to shred them finely in the lawnmower and keep the humidity good so that they are turned faster into leaf mold. Stop burning those leaves and feed your soil.
Since trees are nourished by their own fallen leaves I am trying the dried out garlic stalks as mulch for the first time this Fall. And it is very pretty. Usually I use coarse leaves but better if you crumple up for sure. I try to use whats handy
Just got a PTO driven wood chipper for the tractor, I've been clearing trees to put in an orchard. I have a huge pile of fir, poplar and birch wood chips for mulch.
The trick to avoid oat weeds growing after using straw mulch? Let the chickens pick through it for a couple of days before raking it up and putting it in the garden! When spring comes, either use it in a different area of the garden or give it back to the chickens for bedding 😀
Bedding straight from the coop (with chickens) can be hot. I have burned plants in the past but have found that a couple months out in the weather will water it down for lack of a better term. That being said bedding from the coop will suppress weeds and is high in nitrogen for your plants.
One of the reasons I love your channel is because we are not so far apart, I'm in Northwest Indiana about 6 mi south of the shore of Lake Michigan... So yes we are familiar with the lake effect here as well! We are technically zone 6 here in this little bubble around chicago, but anything south of here is zone 5, so it just kind of depends on, well, which way the wind blows! Your gardening tips are right on the money for me. ❤️ As for my garlic... so far I've been ok mulching with leaves from my maples as long as they are shredded first, then get wet after they are spread. Somehow once the shredded leaves get rained on they "stick" to reach other and the ground just enough. So far! 😄 I appreciate what you do and share!
S.E Ont Cda. I planted my garlic end of October. Surrounded by maples trees on my farm. I raked up and put about 3-4 inches on my bed. Then it blew all away! Did it again and threw a VERY LIGHT layer of fine woodchips, here & there to hold it down. NOT over the whole bed. Still holding. It is a small bed that I planted about 165 cloves in. I always cover my garlic with leaves. I have SO MANY. No cost, just very light work as I am 67 yo. I gentley rake it off when the garlic pokes through in perhaps Mar/Apr.
Photo bombed by a grey squirrel at 4:43 :-) Thanks for all of your great advice Luke, I'm up in zone 2a/1b depending on what the Siberian Express does that winter, think upper Minnesota only with a longer winter. I find your advice very useful because you're in a colder climate too, I just adjust your planting dates by a few months and stick to crops that have a shorter growing season and are more cold tolerant. Your advice has greatly improved my feeble efforts, Thank YOU!
I use a finely shredded hardwood mulch, it's a natural mulch (no dyes), it's heavy enough to stay in place, and it adds a good solid layer of protection. Love the channel.
Ive been following all of your garlic tips this year for my first try at the crop. I went with pine straw (needles) for my mulch as it is abundant and free here and it sounds like it will be a good choice, ticks all the boxes you mentioned! You always say grow big or go home so I really went for it and planted 3 lbs.! German Red and Siberian varieties per the recommendation of an experienced gardener in my neighborhood. Can't wait to compare our harvests next year.
As soon as you said “Lake Huron” that song popped into my head. “Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings in the rooms of her ice water mansions. Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams. The islands and bays are for sportsmen. Farther below Lake Ontario, takes in what Lake Erie can send her. And the iron boats go as the mariners all know with the gales of November remembered.”
Great video! Thanks for the information about pine needles not adding acidity to the soil. I’ve always wondered about that. Also good to know the pros and cons about the different mulches. Here’s a question though... what is the reasoning behind waiting to mulch your garlic until it starts to get colder rather than just mulching when you plant it? Just curious. ☺️
We signed up for ChipDrop and got a whole bunch of woodchips dropped off at our property for free this past summer. I've used the remaining woodchips we had left (after using most of them for a different project) to cover my beds for winter. None of my garlic came up (I didn't store it properly) so I'll have to try again next year, but we are using woodchips for covering soil this winter in SE MI. We use straw for chicken coop bedding over winter so we can deep litter and not have to clean the coop while it's -bazillion outside XD
Luke, I'm in 6a-b. I planted my garlic Oct 10, covered it with pine shavings and planted clover seed. The clover came up but the garlic didn't. The snow started at Thanksgiving, the garlic is under a 3' drift that will last until May. I'm sure the garlic is snug and warm, and will be ready for harvest by the end of June. I also use the pine shavings as a summer mulch, it's worked fantastically and is very cheap.
This entire video made me laugh. 😂 logically I know it’s how the world works, but to me winter means 6 months of snow and down to -40 weather. So the thought of a winter where it doesn’t get below 20 boggles my mind! My take away from this video is mulching garlic is a must for my area. lol
Thanks for this bud, got me to go out and check on them. Everything seems to be ok! I had some issues with my garlic sprouting and growing too early this year, with that late heat wave. Did a second planting mid November that seemed too late, it has started to sprout nicely, covered them all back up with leaves and crossing my fingers. Looking forward to June.
I totally put this animal bedding for my garlic from your last video. Honestly, we are in 7b/a and I didn't have to according to this video's intro, but we did it anyway. We mixed it with cedar and it was awesome smelling to boot lol.
Ha Ha, I noticed the squirrel running atop the fence in the background when videoing. Do you have a problem with the squirrels when the garden is in full bloom? I have found they like my ripest tomatoes but plant enough so I don't worry about losing a lot. Plus my landlord has a Yorkie and if he see one he is on it in a heart beat. Love your videos.
Great information thank you! One thing I have noticed regarding using leaves for mulch on my garlic here in Zone 5b Ontario is that they work much better if I shred the leaves first. Chop them up a bit with a lawn mower or a shredder first then apply. They do not blow away then.
with straw because of the weeds and grass contamination I recommend weed barrior just like in ground beds for bushes and trees to prevent weeds I would use weed barrior and cut holes for my garlic and using something like a spoon put all my bulbs in each holes and recover and water. The great thing about weed barrior is water will pass through the cloth and once covered with straw I would put some of the small square wire fencing over the top of t he bed which will prevent heavy snow from ruining the garlic while it stays dormant and all you have to do is remove it toward the end of april.
Nice cideo Luke...and that bedding looks great but the thrifty side of me leans toward free mulches!👍😁...I tend to mulch my garlic with whatever i have access to. I agree whole leaves can be a challenge due to the matting effect. I love shredded leaves laid on about 4 - 6" thick then I throw a scattering of spruce boughs all over the bed just to make sure the leaves do not blow away. This year I planted 200+ bulbs of Magic garlic (which I harvested from this years crop). I have used hay and straw a number of timez but the secret to that is in tge spring the first time I cut my lawn I lay all the fresh grass clippings a couple inches thick on top of the hay or straw on the garlic bed. This helps break down the remaining hay/straw (which has already broken down) and also mulches out any weed seeds that are sprouting....plus it gives tge garlic a quick nitrogen boost. So hay and straw is my favorite when I can get it! Always have a great harvest! Your garden looks great and thank you for the video! Have a great day! Mike👍😁🇨🇦
Should I cover my garlic with a waterproof tarp over the winter I’m in Michigan as well. I lifted it up this morning and my garlic was sprouting what should I do !?!?!?
The deer have been biting the tops off my garlic. I planted the first row in mid-October but we have had warm weather until now. Yes, everything I grow, except herbs, has to be protected. Do you think the garlic will resprout in Spring? Thank you! You are an amazing gardener.
Thanks so much! Doing garling for the first time and I have used mulched leaves and they are blowing all over the place. 6B, oceanside. The Animal Bedding is a great tip! Thank you!
I agree with what you said about mulching the garden. I do want to take a second to correct one thing however. As a chicken owner, please, if anyone is considering wood bedding for chickens use pine, NOT CEDAR. Cedar causes respiratory issues in your birds. Pine is fine😉
Zone 4 Canada here. --30°C [ --22°F ] is not uncommon here, sometimes down to --40 when the polar vortex gets nasty. I've always used straw mulch, 15 cm/6" thick. I mulch ~ a month after I plant the garlic, when the ground is starting to freeze. Mulch too early and little critters may dig nice cozy tunnels throught your garlic bed! I plant my own seed garlic from the summer harvest. It has become acclimated to our harsh winters and does well.
We have had snow 6 times, comes and goes lol. Lake affect off of lake ontario and we are in NNY, St Lawrence County. You are very right about mulching garlic. Like your vids, great info!
If you set out grass in a row and let it cure and dry it will become very fine hay. Do it over the course of two or three days on my driveway before mulching. Turning daily.
Thanks for the info on pine mulch. Out of desperation, I used it on my seedling bed but was worried about acidifying it. Now I’m going to use it everywhere because I can get it at a great price and it’s easier for me to store.
I'll have to try that. I'm in zone 8a so we don't always get to much lower than those temps but we will dip into the teens from time to time. Also, I was wondering .. how much should you water during the cold months? I have mainly garlic and greens like lettuce in the beds right now.
Thank you for encourraging me to grow container brocolli. I have never considered planting anything past June in my 5b NE zone. Thanks to my new green house, a tiny heater, and a big electric bill I may get some! My main head is just the size of a lg. cherry tomato but I noticed yesterday a ton of side shoots starting to head up. 😁
Last winter season I held onto the garlic bulbs so they kind of dried before planting, which was obviously too late. I did get garlic, but not nearly as much as I expected from what all was planted. This year, it appears I've put the garlic in too early (the middle of November) as much of its already sprouted. Despite that, I went ahead and mulched over the greens with hemp (not marijuana) bale (animal bedding I use) and leaves. Today I see the garlic greens sticking up through the mulch So far winter seems kind of like winter light, and I see the arugula is still green under its little Quonset. Also the broccoli plants' still growing. But I just don't know that the crop of garlic can continue growing with January and February ahead. I guess time will tell. If I lose the crop I am going to be so sad though. Silly I know, but please say a little prayer for the garlic crop. Sigh...... Thank you for this video. If I lose this crop, at the end of this year I'll follow this planting video to the T.
Re: animal bedding - would clean, corn-based litter work? It’s dehydrated, so I wouldn’t expect it to try to grow. I don’t know if it would be too heavy, though, unless I put it REALLY thinly spread. Thoughts?
The problem of leaf mulch blowing away is easily solved by chopping them up with your lawn mower before you put them on your beds. That's what I mulched my garlic with this fall. I usually use about 12" of old hay but I switched this fall because mice nested in the hay last year. I may top off my garlic mulch with some hay next spring. The chopped up leaves settled down nicely and don't blow and the best part is... THEY'RE FREE. I never pay for anything in my garden if I can help it.
Our buddy works at a planing mill so he gets me big bags ;) Goes into rabbits pens When it gets too dirty they kick it at the pen door and we mulch the garden Great stuff We get lots of mushrooms
Awesome idea! We have chickens and and an angora rabbitry so thats perfect! I put all of our left over hay over my garlic last year and ended up basically weeding the whole garden : ( Love watching you!
I love your videos and appreciate all of your information! I did some research, the animal bedding has chemicals in them and definitely aren't clean or organic.
I did this with leaves, no mulch to be found here but what a truck can carry! And mean a dump truck not a pickup truck. So I used my own leaves to mulch my garlic and onion beds.
I just used straw today on my garlic and in between my raised beds. One round bale was not broken down at all and the other one is breaking down. I was so afraid of finding some kind of critter. I used very old cow manure that is just black dirt now and older chicken manure with straw to cover for the winter. I want to plant in the ground next year so I hope I am helping that to happen. I didn’t till it.
Off subject, but I am wondering how's the electric garden going. I'm averaging 50+ out here in western Washington. Still have lettuce, spinach, and beets growing.
I appreciate the info on mulching. I didn’t mulch last year (zone 5b) and had no problems with my garlic but decided to play it safe this time based on your recommendation. Just got my beds topped off with pine shavings for good measure. Thanks for the great advice!
I love the idea of mulching but the reality is more complicated...I e. was the grass treated with any herbicides? Was the straw sprayed with herbicides or pesticides? Because I want to keep it real and try to keep it pure I use mulched leaves. Last year I purchased a bale of straw at Wilco Farm Store and it had so much seed in it that it actually increased my time spent weeding the garden. You can only do your best and keep learning. Stay warm and cozy this Winter!
see if you can befriend a local woodturner that turns a lot of wooden bowls. when i turn an 8-10 inch bowl, i end up with about as many shavings as the bag you used. i'm always looking for a way to get rid of my shavings!
I have a couple of neighbours with chicken coops - may be time to walk around the neighbourhood and see if they have any of this. Have you ever used (or have an opinion on) seaweed as a mulch?
I've tried animal bedding in the past but I found it difficult to pull back without mixing it into the soil and I worried that I was pulling the nitrogen out of the soil as it tried to break down the wood shavings. What I really prefer is partially decomposed straw. It's soft and pliable and easy to form around plants and it doesn't blow away. I just buy a few bales in the fall and let them sit in the rain and by spring the straw is ready. Am I wrong about the soil nitrogen and wood shavings mixed into the top few inches?
How about Hog fuel for mulch? I can get it for free at the local mill. It's pine and cedar so would the cedar be a problem? Thank you for your video!!!
That is exa tly what I have done for years...I use what ever I have, leaves, straw, hay, grass clippings, etc., I planted 200+ bulbs this fall and it is all mulched about 6" thick.
My garlic was at least 6 in when I put straw on it a couple weeks ago I noticed that Luke just dumped it on top of the already growing garlic. When I put my straw on the garlic I tried to be careful and get it around every plant it was a pain in the you-know-what. Could I have just dumped it all on top and not worried about it and covered it completely up it wouldn't ruin it ot break it?
@@michellef.1445 Hi Michelle what you did was perfect! In past years my garlic would usually be up 4 - 5" but this year mine was in a bit later and is just now starting to sprout through the mulch. I tend to mulch mine as soon as I plant it and garlic has always been able to work its way through so I guess either way isn't a problem. Luke's mulch is pretty light and I suspect the garlic will be fine and works its way up and through! Have a great day and enjoy that garlic! Mike
Have a quick question. Planted garlic in a large container at beginning of October. It sprouted big time. I did mulch with straw. Do you think it will be ok here on Long Island, zone 7? Hoping my first time will work!
Hey Luke. I heard you say you remove the mulch from your garlic in the spring. Do you completely remove the animal bedding? If not, Can you stir some of it into the soil after harvesting garlic? Or would that mess with nitrogen?
I love in zone 8B and continue to mulch my garlic with my last mowing. This happens to be about 40% grass and 60% leaves from my neighbor's trees. It is a very fluffy mix and works well for my garden and my garlic.
Luke and staff, I say May God bless you. Ya all are really fired up about the garden! It's a blessing so very much to me and to others who are gardening. But even just to see your good examples of hard work and reward is so rewarding to us who get your videos! 😁🎶📝🖐️🇺🇸Thanks Guys!
I grew garlic for the first time last year and used pine shavings as mulch, it worked great. I actually use it for all my raised bed garden mulch needs since it is easier for me to lift/handle and we always have it on hand for our animals.
A little bird netting over the bed and tacked around the edges will keep light mulch from blowing away. I use straw that I run through my shredder/chipper and it works great.
Yes! I put deer netting over mine
What type of chipper have you had good luck with?
@@cbosworth6808 I bought a Troy-Bilt 250cc chipper/shredder a few years ago from Home Depot....$700. I believe they are a little more expensive now. I've had very good luck with it so far and it didn't break the bank to buy it.
I use pine needles (straw) as bedding in my chicken coop🐓 and the pine shavings for my rabbits🐇; when I clean them out during the winter months, everything is going straight onto the grow beds in the gardens. Ever since I started doing this, my veggies have turned into monster sizes 😊
Was using pine needles as mulch last winter and they were withstanding our harsh winds unlike leaves or straw.
I'm zone 7A now and grew in zones 4 thru 5 for 20 years until the last 5 years. Use the leaves, lightly cover and use bird netting to keep the leaves from blowing away. Remember too much mulch risks holding a lot of moisture around the bulb and rotting. Garlic needs to vernalize and then go thru stratification to form the cloves that make up the garlic bulb.
I believe coop is the word you were looking for
Or henhouse :)
Leaves to us are the best mulch. The only thing you need to do is to shred them finely in the lawnmower and keep the humidity good so that they are turned faster into leaf mold. Stop burning those leaves and feed your soil.
I got a shredder and it's amazing how fast they break down my neighbors are giving me their leaves now.
Since trees are nourished by their own fallen leaves I am trying the dried out garlic stalks as mulch for the first time this Fall. And it is very pretty. Usually I use coarse leaves but better if you crumple up for sure. I try to use whats handy
Just got a PTO driven wood chipper for the tractor, I've been clearing trees to put in an orchard. I have a huge pile of fir, poplar and birch wood chips for mulch.
Can you make a general mulching video? What to use, on what plants, benefits, etc
The trick to avoid oat weeds growing after using straw mulch? Let the chickens pick through it for a couple of days before raking it up and putting it in the garden! When spring comes, either use it in a different area of the garden or give it back to the chickens for bedding 😀
Bedding straight from the coop (with chickens) can be hot. I have burned plants in the past but have found that a couple months out in the weather will water it down for lack of a better term. That being said bedding from the coop will suppress weeds and is high in nitrogen for your plants.
One of the reasons I love your channel is because we are not so far apart, I'm in Northwest Indiana about 6 mi south of the shore of Lake Michigan... So yes we are familiar with the lake effect here as well! We are technically zone 6 here in this little bubble around chicago, but anything south of here is zone 5, so it just kind of depends on, well, which way the wind blows! Your gardening tips are right on the money for me. ❤️
As for my garlic... so far I've been ok mulching with leaves from my maples as long as they are shredded first, then get wet after they are spread.
Somehow once the shredded leaves get rained on they "stick" to reach other and the ground just enough. So far! 😄 I appreciate what you do and share!
S.E Ont Cda. I planted my garlic end of October. Surrounded by maples trees on my farm. I raked up and put about 3-4 inches on my bed. Then it blew all away! Did it again and threw a VERY LIGHT layer of fine woodchips, here & there to hold it down. NOT over the whole bed. Still holding. It is a small bed that I planted about 165 cloves in. I always cover my garlic with leaves. I have SO MANY. No cost, just very light work as I am 67 yo. I gentley rake it off when the garlic pokes through in perhaps Mar/Apr.
I used pine shavings when I had chickens. Gonna try it over my garlic in northern CA. We plant in October and harvest in June. Lots. 💖😊
Photo bombed by a grey squirrel at 4:43 :-) Thanks for all of your great advice Luke, I'm up in zone 2a/1b depending on what the Siberian Express does that winter, think upper Minnesota only with a longer winter. I find your advice very useful because you're in a colder climate too, I just adjust your planting dates by a few months and stick to crops that have a shorter growing season and are more cold tolerant. Your advice has greatly improved my feeble efforts, Thank YOU!
I use a finely shredded hardwood mulch, it's a natural mulch (no dyes), it's heavy enough to stay in place, and it adds a good solid layer of protection. Love the channel.
Ive been following all of your garlic tips this year for my first try at the crop. I went with pine straw (needles) for my mulch as it is abundant and free here and it sounds like it will be a good choice, ticks all the boxes you mentioned! You always say grow big or go home so I really went for it and planted 3 lbs.! German Red and Siberian varieties per the recommendation of an experienced gardener in my neighborhood. Can't wait to compare our harvests next year.
As soon as you said “Lake Huron” that song popped into my head.
“Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings in the rooms of her ice water mansions.
Old Michigan steams like a young man’s dreams. The islands and bays are for sportsmen.
Farther below Lake Ontario, takes in what Lake Erie can send her.
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know with the gales of November remembered.”
Great video! Thanks for the information about pine needles not adding acidity to the soil. I’ve always wondered about that.
Also good to know the pros and cons about the different mulches.
Here’s a question though... what is the reasoning behind waiting to mulch your garlic until it starts to get colder rather than just mulching when you plant it? Just curious. ☺️
Just what I need! My first time planting garlic and it is coming up. Kansas
We signed up for ChipDrop and got a whole bunch of woodchips dropped off at our property for free this past summer. I've used the remaining woodchips we had left (after using most of them for a different project) to cover my beds for winter. None of my garlic came up (I didn't store it properly) so I'll have to try again next year, but we are using woodchips for covering soil this winter in SE MI. We use straw for chicken coop bedding over winter so we can deep litter and not have to clean the coop while it's -bazillion outside XD
Luke, I'm in 6a-b. I planted my garlic Oct 10, covered it with pine shavings and planted clover seed. The clover came up but the garlic didn't. The snow started at Thanksgiving, the garlic is under a 3' drift that will last until May. I'm sure the garlic is snug and warm, and will be ready for harvest by the end of June. I also use the pine shavings as a summer mulch, it's worked fantastically and is very cheap.
This entire video made me laugh. 😂 logically I know it’s how the world works, but to me winter means 6 months of snow and down to -40 weather. So the thought of a winter where it doesn’t get below 20 boggles my mind! My take away from this video is mulching garlic is a must for my area. lol
Thanks for this bud, got me to go out and check on them. Everything seems to be ok! I had some issues with my garlic sprouting and growing too early this year, with that late heat wave. Did a second planting mid November that seemed too late, it has started to sprout nicely, covered them all back up with leaves and crossing my fingers. Looking forward to June.
Great videos. I saw your other garlic video after I did a G-search. My bulbs sprouted! Good to know no problem!
I totally put this animal bedding for my garlic from your last video. Honestly, we are in 7b/a and I didn't have to according to this video's intro, but we did it anyway. We mixed it with cedar and it was awesome smelling to boot lol.
Thank you Luke for all your help and information you provide on gardening, you’re a big inspiration to many and are appreciated.
I always mulch with shredded leaves in zone 7. Always have a great crop. This is a good alternative, but leaf mulch is FREE.
Ha Ha, I noticed the squirrel running atop the fence in the background when videoing. Do you have a problem with the squirrels when the garden is in full bloom? I have found they like my ripest tomatoes but plant enough so I don't worry about losing a lot. Plus my landlord has a Yorkie and if he see one he is on it in a heart beat. Love your videos.
I always forget about luke and follow the squirrel, luke can you go to the left a bit... XDXDXD
Great information thank you! One thing I have noticed regarding using leaves for mulch on my garlic here in Zone 5b Ontario is that they work much better if I shred the leaves first. Chop them up a bit with a lawn mower or a shredder first then apply. They do not blow away then.
I use it in my compost and as an insulator. I buy it at Tractor Supply in a big bag and keep in a sealed tub.
with straw because of the weeds and grass contamination I recommend weed barrior just like in ground beds for bushes and trees to prevent weeds I would use weed barrior and cut holes for my garlic and using something like a spoon put all my bulbs in each holes and recover and water. The great thing about weed barrior is water will pass through the cloth and once covered with straw I would put some of the small square wire fencing over the top of t he bed which will prevent heavy snow from ruining the garlic while it stays dormant and all you have to do is remove it toward the end of april.
I am in Kansas, Zone 6a. I always mulch my garlic with straw and it works great for me!
Thank you for this reminder
I am going to do this today. I have had so much die off overwinter with my garlic. Thanks for the video.
Hey, just FYI grass clippings are amazing for the garden if you just let them dry a couple of days first! Once they turn brown you are golden.
Nice cideo Luke...and that bedding looks great but the thrifty side of me leans toward free mulches!👍😁...I tend to mulch my garlic with whatever i have access to. I agree whole leaves can be a challenge due to the matting effect. I love shredded leaves laid on about 4 - 6" thick then I throw a scattering of spruce boughs all over the bed just to make sure the leaves do not blow away. This year I planted 200+ bulbs of Magic garlic (which I harvested from this years crop). I have used hay and straw a number of timez but the secret to that is in tge spring the first time I cut my lawn I lay all the fresh grass clippings a couple inches thick on top of the hay or straw on the garlic bed. This helps break down the remaining hay/straw (which has already broken down) and also mulches out any weed seeds that are sprouting....plus it gives tge garlic a quick nitrogen boost. So hay and straw is my favorite when I can get it! Always have a great harvest!
Your garden looks great and thank you for the video!
Have a great day!
Mike👍😁🇨🇦
Should I cover my garlic with a waterproof tarp over the winter I’m in Michigan as well. I lifted it up this morning and my garlic was sprouting what should I do !?!?!?
The deer have been biting the tops off my garlic. I planted the first row in mid-October but we have had warm weather until now. Yes, everything I grow, except herbs, has to be protected. Do you think the garlic will resprout in Spring? Thank you! You are an amazing gardener.
Thanks so much! Doing garling for the first time and I have used mulched leaves and they are blowing all over the place. 6B, oceanside. The Animal Bedding is a great tip! Thank you!
I use pine needles and they do t mat, blow, and are slightly bug repellant. However I use last years needles before the curren fall season drops.
I agree with what you said about mulching the garden. I do want to take a second to correct one thing however. As a chicken owner, please, if anyone is considering wood bedding for chickens use pine, NOT CEDAR. Cedar causes respiratory issues in your birds. Pine is fine😉
I first used pine shaving for my chix coop then I found it didn't break down in my garden the way I liked. I like straw but I do have weed issues.
Zone 4 Canada here. --30°C [ --22°F ] is not uncommon here, sometimes down to --40 when the polar vortex gets nasty. I've always used straw mulch, 15 cm/6" thick. I mulch ~ a month after I plant the garlic, when the ground is starting to freeze. Mulch too early and little critters may dig nice cozy tunnels throught your garlic bed! I plant my own seed garlic from the summer harvest. It has become acclimated to our harsh winters and does well.
Awesome finally got my first crop of garlic going gotta lots of great info from you over the years thanks man
I have used it works great and I use it because of last video u put up on garlic last year
We have had snow 6 times, comes and goes lol. Lake affect off of lake ontario and we are in NNY, St Lawrence County. You are very right about mulching garlic. Like your vids, great info!
If you set out grass in a row and let it cure and dry it will become very fine hay. Do it over the course of two or three days on my driveway before mulching. Turning daily.
I use shavings with manure mixed in by the animals. Super easy. Also makes compost that is superb.
Thanks for the info on pine mulch. Out of desperation, I used it on my seedling bed but was worried about acidifying it. Now I’m going to use it everywhere because I can get it at a great price and it’s easier for me to store.
Always mulch my garlic!!! SW central MO!! And I use straw...works great here for me.
Good info. Mulched the three varieties I purchased from you last week. First time I have planted garlic. Looking forward to next summer’s harvest.
Cool alternative! I use 99% weed free straw, because I like how easily I can brush it to the side.
Straw is really the king for winter mulching. Especially if you don't want to encourage shoot growth with excess nitrogen.
Hey Luke!!! I use bedding also!
I'll have to try that. I'm in zone 8a so we don't always get to much lower than those temps but we will dip into the teens from time to time.
Also, I was wondering .. how much should you water during the cold months? I have mainly garlic and greens like lettuce in the beds right now.
Is there any downside to mulching garlic in a higher zone? Like 8?
Excellent, thanks. This is my first year attempting garlic... I would have been sad if a freeze killed it all off.
Thank you for encourraging me to grow container brocolli. I have never considered planting anything past June in my 5b NE zone. Thanks to my new green house, a tiny heater, and a big electric bill I may get some! My main head is just the size of a lg. cherry tomato but I noticed yesterday a ton of side shoots starting to head up. 😁
Last winter season I held onto the garlic bulbs so they kind of dried before planting, which was obviously too late. I did get garlic, but not nearly as much as I expected from what all was planted. This year, it appears I've put the garlic in too early (the middle of November) as much of its already sprouted. Despite that, I went ahead and mulched over the greens with hemp (not marijuana) bale (animal bedding I use) and leaves. Today I see the garlic greens sticking up through the mulch So far winter seems kind of like winter light, and I see the arugula is still green under its little Quonset. Also the broccoli plants' still growing. But I just don't know that the crop of garlic can continue growing with January and February ahead. I guess time will tell. If I lose the crop I am going to be so sad though. Silly I know, but please say a little prayer for the garlic crop. Sigh...... Thank you for this video. If I lose this crop, at the end of this year I'll follow this planting video to the T.
Re: animal bedding - would clean, corn-based litter work? It’s dehydrated, so I wouldn’t expect it to try to grow. I don’t know if it would be too heavy, though, unless I put it REALLY thinly spread.
Thoughts?
The problem of leaf mulch blowing away is easily solved by chopping them up with your lawn mower before you put them on your beds. That's what I mulched my garlic with this fall. I usually use about 12" of old hay but I switched this fall because mice nested in the hay last year. I may top off my garlic mulch with some hay next spring. The chopped up leaves settled down nicely and don't blow and the best part is... THEY'RE FREE. I never pay for anything in my garden if I can help it.
Our buddy works at a planing mill so he gets me big bags ;)
Goes into rabbits pens
When it gets too dirty they kick it at the pen door and we mulch the garden
Great stuff
We get lots of mushrooms
Awesome idea! We have chickens and and an angora rabbitry so thats perfect! I put all of our left over hay over my garlic last year and ended up basically weeding the whole garden : ( Love watching you!
I love your videos and appreciate all of your information! I did some research, the animal bedding has chemicals in them and definitely aren't clean or organic.
I did this with leaves, no mulch to be found here but what a truck can carry! And mean a dump truck not a pickup truck. So I used my own leaves to mulch my garlic and onion beds.
Have anyone saw the squirrel on the fence at 7:26?
Thanks for the video, good info as always.
I love the enthusiasm with which u said “mulching... garlic”
I just used straw today on my garlic and in between my raised beds. One round bale was not broken down at all and the other one is breaking down. I was so afraid of finding some kind of critter. I used very old cow manure that is just black dirt now and older chicken manure with straw to cover for the winter. I want to plant in the ground next year so I hope I am helping that to happen. I didn’t till it.
Off subject, but I am wondering how's the electric garden going. I'm averaging 50+ out here in western Washington. Still have lettuce, spinach, and beets growing.
I'm also waiting for that update
Putting it in on Wed 12/9, can't wait to see if my carrots and lettuce start to grow more.
Thank you for all this information!
What are your thoughts on cedar shavings for garlic beds. Also, do you remove the shavings in the spring.
I appreciate the info on mulching. I didn’t mulch last year (zone 5b) and had no problems with my garlic but decided to play it safe this time based on your recommendation. Just got my beds topped off with pine shavings for good measure. Thanks for the great advice!
Love the EF reference. Most people your age outside of the upper mid-west have never heard it.
Sending some love from Maine for that LL Bean's hat!!!
I used pet bedding too! Glad I'm not alone. I also use deer netting over top
Dang I bought cedar much because I couldn’t remember which one you mentioned. Hope it will still work out ok. Maybe the cedar will keeps bugs away?😊
Luke, you're a treasure trove of information and positivity. Thank you!💜
Will get some wood shavings when I go to the pet store to get cat litter.🙂
i put a light layer of leaves with straw over the top. first year with garlic. fingers crossed!
I put a tarp over my leaf mulch and hold it down with a weight on the corners.
Brilliant! As always- thank you so much! Please stay safe. Be well.
I love the idea of mulching but the reality is more complicated...I e. was the grass treated with any herbicides? Was the straw sprayed with herbicides or pesticides? Because I want to keep it real and try to keep it pure I use mulched leaves. Last year I purchased a bale of straw at Wilco Farm Store and it had so much seed in it that it actually increased my time spent weeding the garden. You can only do your best and keep learning. Stay warm and cozy this Winter!
Thank you for the reminder video. I need to get my garlic covered this weekend.
see if you can befriend a local woodturner that turns a lot of wooden bowls. when i turn an 8-10 inch bowl, i end up with about as many shavings as the bag you used. i'm always looking for a way to get rid of my shavings!
Will be doing this
I have a couple of neighbours with chicken coops - may be time to walk around the neighbourhood and see if they have any of this. Have you ever used (or have an opinion on) seaweed as a mulch?
I only use partly rotted straw as a mulch. You let it sit out a year and all the seeds germinate. I'll be using prairie grass this year.
I find that straw does the best for mulching garlic
Now you tell me, Luke! LOL I just put straw on my garlic bed. UGH! I guess I'll be weeding in the spring! Live and learn, right! Happy Holidays!
I've tried animal bedding in the past but I found it difficult to pull back without mixing it into the soil and I worried that I was pulling the nitrogen out of the soil as it tried to break down the wood shavings. What I really prefer is partially decomposed straw. It's soft and pliable and easy to form around plants and it doesn't blow away. I just buy a few bales in the fall and let them sit in the rain and by spring the straw is ready.
Am I wrong about the soil nitrogen and wood shavings mixed into the top few inches?
Thanks for the info and we are loving your hat from here in Maine!
How about Hog fuel for mulch? I can get it for free at the local mill. It's pine and cedar so would the cedar be a problem?
Thank you for your video!!!
I mulch my garlic as soon as i plant it. Not sure if that’s the best or not. Haven’t had any issues with it though...
That is exa tly what I have done for years...I use what ever I have, leaves, straw, hay, grass clippings, etc., I planted 200+ bulbs this fall and it is all mulched about 6" thick.
My garlic was at least 6 in when I put straw on it a couple weeks ago I noticed that Luke just dumped it on top of the already growing garlic. When I put my straw on the garlic I tried to be careful and get it around every plant it was a pain in the you-know-what. Could I have just dumped it all on top and not worried about it and covered it completely up it wouldn't ruin it ot break it?
@@michellef.1445 Hi Michelle what you did was perfect! In past years my garlic would usually be up 4 - 5" but this year mine was in a bit later and is just now starting to sprout through the mulch. I tend to mulch mine as soon as I plant it and garlic has always been able to work its way through so I guess either way isn't a problem. Luke's mulch is pretty light and I suspect the garlic will be fine and works its way up and through!
Have a great day and enjoy that garlic!
Mike
I mulch specifically for water retention. We rarely drop below the 40's
Can we use regular mulch?? Like I do for my flowers??
Have a quick question. Planted garlic in a large container at beginning of October. It sprouted big time. I did mulch with straw. Do you think it will be ok here on Long Island, zone 7? Hoping my first time will work!
Use this for my chicken coop, always wondered if pine would change the acidity. Really cheap at feed stores
Hey Luke. I heard you say you remove the mulch from your garlic in the spring. Do you completely remove the animal bedding? If not, Can you stir some of it into the soil after harvesting garlic? Or would that mess with nitrogen?
I was going to use shredded leaves but I have the pine shavings. Thanks for the info.