Field and Garden: Be cautious when amending your garden

When I was growing up, it was my job each spring to mulch our rhubarb and asparagus with a thick layer of straw and composted manure.

The mulch suppressed weeds and supplied nutrients to the perennial garden plants.

Both crops thrived in this system. The rhubarb stalks and asparagus spears were big and thick, always tender and never stringy.

Last spring I started a new asparagus bed in our yard in...