Recently I spoke at a local garden club about pest. I listed the number one pest as weeds. That's right too often weeds are the major pest of the garden.

This is due mostly to good intention. Those few weeds we let go make seeds. Then suddenly the garden is overrun with weeds.

Now is a great time to start weeding. Remove all weeds and crop debris from the garden site. Then cultivate the soil now before frost.

There is still time to till the soil and allow some of those weed seeds to germinate. Spreading compost over the garden before fall tillage helps to increase aeration and soil tilth.

Then in a couple of weeks seed the garden with winter rye. This keeps the soil covered and allows you to turn under a green manure crop in the spring.

A green manure crop contributes organic matter to the soil and helps control weeds. One caution is do not allow the cover crop to go to seed. If that happens, you introduced another weed.

Make yourself a record as to what crop grew where. Next year do not plant solonaceous crops in the same location like if tomatoes grew in a location. Next year do not plant peppers there. They are related.

Crop rotation is one of the first things a good gardener learns. Be sure to practice it always.

This time of year one should take a soil sample and have it tested. A soil test now will allow plenty of time to apply additional nutrients including lime.

So get out there in the garden by taking advantage of these gorgeous fall days. You'll get a jump on the coming spring and your garden will thank you.