Fall means the weather is getting cooler and it can be quite stressful trying to get all of your fall yard work done before the snow falls. That's why we've put together a list of tasks you should never skip this season. This is the fall gardening work you should do. Below you will discover a checklist.
Fall Gardening: Rake up the leaves before it snows
Leaves left on the lawn over the winter can cause patchy, dead spots. Raking up leaves before winter is very important for the health of your lawn. You can collect the leaves and then spread them around your garden as natural mulch or simply throw them in the compost bin. Foliage is like free gold for gardeners and has a lot of benefits in the garden.
Protect newly planted perennials and shrubs
It is advisable to mulch newly planted perennials and shrubs that are not yet well rooted to prevent the root ball from lifting out of the ground during the winter. Mulch helps keep the soil at a more even temperature.
Take care of the perennial plants in pots
Perennial plants in containers and pots are much more exposed to winter temperatures than plants in the ground. To make it easier for them to survive, consider placing the containers in a greenhouse or on the sunniest side of your house where it is warmer.
Remove annual plants from containers
When fall comes, it's time to remove the annual plants and store the pots for the winter. This can be tricky because long-blooming plants look great in the fall, but once frost sets in, you'll wish you had removed them sooner. Healthy annual plants can be composted and diseased plants should be discarded.
Fall gardening – it’s time for fall planting
The still warm soil and relatively cool air temperatures promote healthy root growth for the plants, which return each year. Divide or move plants in the garden in the fall. Ideally, you should give the roots at least six weeks to settle into their new home before the ground freezes. Fall is the best time to plant spring-blooming bulbs like tulips, daffodils, crocuses, and a variety of other plants that you can find at your garden center this time of year. Combine them with perennials such as hostas and catnip to cover the bulbs at the time of dormancy.
Fall Gardening: Refresh Your Vegetable Garden for Next Year
Whether you have a large kitchen garden or a small patch of edible plants, things will start to calm down in the fall as you harvest the last of the tasty fruits. As soon as a few frosts end the growing season, you should complete the following vegetable garden tasks to be ready for next season's harvest.
Muck out the beds
Removing all plant debris will help prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in your garden.
Your kitchen garden needs compost
Spread a 2- to 3-inch layer of compost on your beds to enrich the soil. You don't have to incorporate the compost; precipitation and soil organisms do that for you.
You can now expand your cultivation areas
If you're looking to expand your planting space, this season is the perfect time toto create new vegetable and raised bedsor to compact grass where you want to create a bed.
Even though it may seem like your plants are falling asleep, their roots are still actively growing in the fall. Evergreen perennials, shrubs, and trees, as well as anything you've recently planted, need to be watered until the ground begins to freeze.
Autumn in the garden: winterize sprinkler systems and hoses
We all know that underground irrigation systems need to be winterized. Blowing out the sprinklers is undoubtedly one of the most important fall gardening tasks. You should also take the time to empty the garden hoses and store them in a garage or garden shed if you have space. This will extend the life of your hose.
Don't forget to also winterize irrigation systems such as drip irrigation. These should also be emptied and stored for the winter.
Winterization of ponds and fountains
If you have a garden pond, water feature, rain barrels or other water containers, they should be properly winterized, completely drained and then stored either upside down or in a garage or shed.
Autumnal garden – cleaning the greenhouse, garden tools and pots
- Clear out the garden shed. Make sure soft materials and seeds are protected from rodents.
- Remove dirt, grime and rust from all garden tools.
- Empty summer annual plants from their pots, containers and flower boxes. Compost the plants,use the potting soilas mulch, and rinse and scrub the pots. Allow them to dry before storing them for next year.
- Clear out the greenhouse andwash it thoroughly. If you do this now, your overwintering plants will have fewer pests, fungi, mold, and pathogens to contend with in the winter.
