Fall Garden Prep

Hey guys! I finally got my fall seeds in, and now it’s time to prepare another bed—or two—in my high tunnel. If you’re new here, welcome! I’m Fran, or officially Fran, and today I’m taking you through part one of prepping my no-till fall garden beds.

Mulch Madness & Garden Organization

First things first—I had to get some mulch. I’d been waiting for a chip drop this year, but it didn’t happen in time. So, I went out and bought some. Not my first choice, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do!

While getting ready, I noticed a mess I created with all my garden supplies scattered around the compost bin. I realized I need to move the compost down by my dog’s water barrel and figure out some storage for all my garden tools. Plus, I have plans for a mini greenhouse—more on that in a bit!

Jimmy Rigging a Greenhouse?

I’m always looking for ways to recycle and repurpose things around the property. So, here’s a challenge for you: guess what I’m going to turn into a greenhouse. Hint: it’s metal, and if you watch some of my other “Jimmy Rig” videos, you’ll know my style. Leave your guesses in the comments, and there might just be a prize!

No-Till Magic

A few weeks ago, I prepped my third bed, and I’d already cleaned out the second bed. Dead lettuce, cabbage, and other plants went to the animals after I collected seeds. Beetles had a feast, but that’s okay—they didn’t touch my tomatoes and cucumbers.

I also harvested some marigolds for tea and seeds. These beauties will get planted all over the property next year.

Prepping the Beds

Now it’s time to focus on the third row. I usually top off beds with compost, but I was running low. Rather than buying dozens of bags, I’m exploring alternatives. While preparing the beds, I keep the soil covered to prevent weeds. No-till gardening is amazing because it preserves soil health while keeping weeds at bay.

Each of my beds is 30 inches wide, with 18-inch walkways. I double-check the width, push wood chips into place, and use soaker hoses to mark straight lines. Covering the soil with a heavy tarp kills weeds naturally, keeping the beds clean and ready for planting.

Mulching the Walkways

Once the beds are set, I spread mulch in the walkways—no cardboard, no landscaping fabric. The long-covered soil underneath ensures minimal weeds. Even if a few seeds blow in, it’s not a big deal.

And of course, my dogs are the supervisors throughout the process, making sure everything is “checked.”

Part One Wrap-Up

With the walkways mulched and rows marked, I’m ready to move to the next step: filling the planting beds with compost. But that’s for part two.

Don’t forget to guess my recycled-metal greenhouse idea in the comments! And if you enjoyed this peek behind the scenes of my no-till fall prep, like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss part two.

Bye-bye for now! And yes, I had to sprinkle the last bit of fertilizer before Leo could eat it—he’s into everything!