Now that the leaves are changing color and starting to fall off the trees, it’s time to start thinking about what needs to be done in the garden. Here are some tips for what gardeners should do in the fall.
What Should Gardeners Do In The Fall?
Until the final gardening activities of the season are over, it is not time to put away your rake. However, the following fall chores must be completed before the snow starts to fall for your garden to look its best in the spring.
Plant something vibrant
Bright, cheery blooms and intriguing texture may liven up a dull and uninteresting fall and winter garden, which is the best cure for the winter blues. Try violas, pansies, asters, garden mums, sedum ‘Autumn Joy,’ sweet alyssum, and ornamental kale and cabbage.
Grow some vegetables
Don’t stop growing vegetables simply because it’s cold outside. Some several lettuces and greens will mature swiftly before the bitterly cold winter months arrive, and some, like kale, actually taste better after a light frost.
To give those edibles a head start in your vegetable garden, try planting lettuce, turnips, mustard greens, collards, and kale. Also, don’t forget to add some rich compost to the soil.
Maintain your tools
Your tools will last much longer if you take good care of them. Wash off chemical and soil stains before storing them for the winter to avoid rusting. Sharpen and oil your tools, giving wooden handles linseed oil to stop them from splitting.
Plant bulbs that bloom in spring
Alliums, tulips, daffodils, and crocus are all wonderful to get in the ground right now; they’re all fantastic to plant when overnight temperatures are in the 40- to 50-degree range. Just keep in mind to mulch your plantings.
Prepare plants for indoors.
Watering potted plants outside, several minutes apart, you can flush pests out of the soil. Remove broken parts and dead leaves. A few days before bringing your plants inside, spray them with insecticidal soap to deter pests.
Mulch your indoor plants as well to keep them clean. Any indoor plants that have gotten bigger may need to be repotted, which would involve moving them to a larger container and adding fresh soil simultaneously.
Plant the foundation plants
Trees, shrubs, and perennials grow well when planted in the fall; just remember that they still require regular watering to get started. For birds to survive the harsh winter, shrubs are excellent shelters and food sources.
Clean your garden
Remove all your rotten tomato leftovers and other edible waste because fallen fruits and vegetables are a breeding ground for bugs and diseases. If you have any unhealthy plants in your vegetable garden, keep in mind that composting them could spoil your future crop.
Save seeds to develop more plants the following year by being a savvy, thrifty gardener. Gather seeds from dead plants and mark them before storing them in paper bags or envelopes so you will know what you have come spring.
You might like these posts:
- When Should You Start A Fall Garden?
- Fall Garden Planning
- How to Plant a Fall Garden for Extended Seasonal Produce
What do I do with my plants in the fall?
Let’s talk everything about fall and how to take care of your plants as the days become shorter and the temperatures drop.
Bring houseplants inside
It’s about time to bring any plants you moved outside for the summer back inside. Before you reach nighttime lows of 55°F (12.5°C), you should bring indoor houseplants back inside. Check your plants for any pests they may have acquired from the outside before the move.
Keep the light sources on
Watch how much light your plants are getting carefully. To receive the same amount of sunshine as they did in the spring and summer, some of your indoor plants may need to move to a new location. Once per week, rotate your plants to ensure that all of the sides are covered and that they don’t lean in one direction or the other.
Water less frequently
As the days become shorter, you’ll notice that you need to water your plants less frequently. Less light is reaching your houseplants, and their growth is slowing down. In the winter, some might even fall dormant. Before watering, always make sure the potting mix is totally dry.
Boost the humidity
If you’re watering less, the air inside will be significantly drier. Therefore you might want to buy a humidifier to raise the humidity levels.
Skip the fertilizer
You can postpone using any fertilizer until the beginning of the growth season in the spring of the next year because foliage growth slows down significantly throughout the fall and winter months. Give your indoor plants the necessities they need to survive the winter—light and water—but don’t stress over them or you can accidentally kill them.
Repot your plants
In the spring and summer, did your plants bud and grow? They most likely did. Now is an excellent time to repot your plants into slightly larger planters if they want more room.
Should you till your garden in the fall?
In the gardening world, there is a lot of discussion about whether or not to till your garden in the fall. Some people swear by it, while others think it wastes time. So, what’s the truth?
Tilling your garden in the fall can actually be a great way to prepare it for winter. By breaking up the soil and removing debris, you create a smooth surface that will be easy to work with when you start planting again in the spring. You can also incorporate some organic matter into the soil to help improve its quality.
However, there are some drawbacks to tilling your garden in the fall. For one thing, it can be a lot of work! And if you live in an area that gets cold winters, you may not want to disturb the soil too much until it has had a chance to freeze.
Should the garden be tilled in fall?
The soil can be prepared for planting more quickly by tilling, especially if you’re establishing a new garden bed. In dense, hard soil, tilling aids in breaking up clumps. Additionally, it will kill some weeds and dislodge the roots.
Tilling in the fall can also reveal caterpillar and beetle pupae, which should be destroyed as soon as they are discovered. To incorporate compost, manure, or leaf litter, you can also use a tiller.