Seeds and vegetatively propagated plants such as potatoes and strawberries should be certified true to cultivar and virus-free. Keep gardens weed-free. Some weeds serve as a reservoir for insects such as flea beetles, spinach leafminers and aphids that may later move to garden plants. Regular cultivation will expose soil insects to predators, parasites, and weather. Plow or spade gardens in the fall to incorporate compost into the soil and expose soil pests.
Compost consists of partially decomposed plant material with or without special supplements.
Materials most commonly used for compost include leaves, hay, lawn clippings, and miscellaneous plant parts from the vegetable and flower garden. Thus, composting uses plant materials otherwise wasted to improve the soil structure. The final product of the compost pile is incorporated into the soil to increase the percent of organic material, resulting in improved water-holding capacity and physical condition of the soil. Do not use diseased plant material in the compost pile because compost temperatures may not be adequate to eliminate disease-causing organisms. Read more about composting in NebGuide G86-810, Garden Compost .