After the summer garden winds down, many gardeners pull their plants and leave their garden beds bare—but that could be one of the biggest mistakes you make all year.

In this episode of The Compost Pile, David and Aaron discuss cover crops, mulching, and why protecting your soil between growing seasons leads to healthier plants, fewer weeds, better moisture retention, and improved soil biology. Whether you're planting a second round of tomatoes and peppers, preparing a fall vegetable garden, or letting a bed rest for the season, there's a way to keep your soil working for you.

We cover:

- Why bare soil quickly loses quality

- How mulch protects soil biology and moisture

- The benefits of nitrogen-fixing cover crops

- Cover  ...