The worms will get busy and quickly produce a mass of rich, dark worm-castings you can add to your various plant pots. In a regular garden, however, I suggest keeping three bins going all the time. I like to keep one bin for leaves and grass clippings, one bin for active composting and the third for mature compost. Saving Water With water tables dropping due to lack of rain and long hot summers, we need to give serious thought to our watering practices. When your garden beds are cleaned up and you have added a top dressing of compost to all of them, it's time to get your irrigation system in place.
Most people water their plants too often and for too short a time.
The simple placement of a series of drip hoses or soaker hoses in strategic locations through your beds, along with the use of an inexpensive mechanical timer on your outdoor faucet will greatly reduce water wastage and improve water dispersal. You can use old plastic jugs as watering devices, keeping them filled and close to plant containers. Re-use pots or share them with a horticultural group for their plant sales. Even refuse from pruning can be used for wood chips to either add to the compost or to decorate your paths. Larger pieces can be used to edge beds or build rustic plant supports.