Fall Gardening Guide: Essential Tasks and Planting Tips

Ah, fall! Crisp air, leaves that are beginning to turn, and it’s the perfect time to be out in the garden. It’s the perfect time to get dirty hands for the last time before winter really sets in.

I have been gardening for so many years, so I have really started to like this season for those strange gardening opportunities.

It’s not just harvesting what you have planted; it’s also preparing for the next growing season.

Some of the tasks taken care of in the fall have paid off to be big dividends in the health and productivity of your garden when spring comes.

I will walk you through those tasks that I found to be indispensable and share some planting tips that worked wonders for me.

Cleanup and Preparation

The passing of the growing season is a little too untidy to leave in its aftermath. Spend a minute or two cleaning out the dead plants, leaves, and other debris.

This will not only keep your garden tidy but also assist in preventing the carryover of both diseases and pests over the winter.

For areas with denser vegetation, I use a good, strong rake, sometimes along with a pair of gloves and an old-fashioned pruning shear.

Soil Care

Fall is the time to add to your garden organic matter—compost or manure—to help in the replenishment of lost nutrients during the growing season.

I like to layer about two inches of compost over my garden beds and then lightly till it into the soil.

This has always provided me with much richer, looser soil in the spring.

Planting Bulbs

For a beautiful array of spring blossoms, fall is the perfect time to plant those bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, and alliums have worked well for me, plants that need the cooling of winter to give you their best.

Plant them at a depth of three times the height of the bulb, and if you are like me, struggling to remember where you’ve planted each type, then sketching a quick map really helps.

Mulching

Mulching this fall has truly been a game-changer for my garden. It is really nice for keeping the roots warm in the winter and staying on top of all the weeds.

Provide a few inches of mulch at the base of the plants. I like to use organic mulches, such as shredded leaves or straw, which will break down over time, improving nutrients in the soil.

Plant Perennials and Shrubs

Fall is the perfect season to plant perennials and shrubs because, with the cooler temperatures, plants are less stressed and can really settle their roots into their new habitat.

Over the years, I have added many perennials, such as hostas and daylilies, in the fall, and they would always pop out of the ground in the spring, ready to grow.

Water Supply Preparation

If you live in a freezing area, then you need to remember to prepare all your water sources for winter. Hoses drained, stored, and shut off; water valves turned off on the exterior.

And I learned a frigid October night the hard way—I had found a burst pipe.

Tool Maintenance

Clean all of your tools and sharpen them up before putting them away for winter. Wipe all of the moving parts with oil to prevent rusting.

Proper storage of tools will help in making them stay longer in service and making your gardening much more fun.

Cover Crops

Planting cover crops, for example clover and winter rye, is one way to greatly improve the health of the soil.

These crops prevent soil erosion and fix nitrogen in the soil that will be available for next year’s plants.

I plant a cover crop where my vegetable garden was. This prepares the bed for whatever I decide to plant in it next spring.

Winter Protection for Tender Plants

Some plants just need a little more care to get through the winter. Wrap sensitive shrubs and young trees in burlap, or buy some frost blankets for those tender perennials.

I have a pretty fig tree that requires wrapping every winter, but because of it, I have kept it thriving through some pretty harsh winters.

Conclusion

Gardening in the fall is super rewarding. It’s the last breath of that clean crisp air outside before winter, getting your garden set up for winter, and setting the stage for spring success.

With these tips, you’re a good step closer to a beautiful and productive garden. So throw on those gardening gloves and let’s do something right this fall.

Remember that every bit of this effort right now will pay off so beautifully in a few months.