At the end of the growing season, instead of ripping out and disposing of annual plants, consider the chop-and-drop mulching method recommended by Stephanie Rose in The Regenerative Garden:
“This works for all plant material that is disease- and pest- free and allows the leaves, stems and flower heads to decompose in place, which will feed the roots of their own kind, mimicking how they fertilize the soil in nature.
“Avoid plants that have gone to seed unless you are intending for those seeds to grow. In fall, cover chop-and-drop mulch with leaf mold and a layer of compost to build rich soil around plants with no waste.”
