The air is crisp, the leaves are changing, and fall is finally here! Not only does prepping your garden before winter enhance its overall appearance, but it also helps protect your plants from the long winter months ahead. Check out these fall time gardening tips and stay ahead of the winter freeze!
Leaves
Although raking the leaves out of your yard makes it easier to deal with in the spring, there are some places where it’s okay to leave the leaves such as directly under trees, bushes, and shrubs that are on sturdy ground. Leaving the leaves on the ground around these particular areas can, over time, create a compost, giving it a little boost of nutrients. However, remember to rake leaves out of perennial beds and grass lawns otherwise they will cause crown rot over the harsh winter months.
Overgrowth
The end of the season is always a good time to clean up and cut back any plant debris, overgrowth, and weeds.
Perennials
As perennials begin to die off for the season, remember to mark their locations using a small stick so you remember where they’re at in the spring. This is also a good time to bring in any houseplants before the frost hits.
Herbs
Herbs from your garden should be dug up and brought inside for the winter. Remember to keep them in a cool, sunny spot and allow the soil to completely dry out before watering. Your herbs should still continue to grow throughout the winter months, but it’s important not to strip the plant completely.
Fruit Plants
Fall is a great time to remember to transplant any fruit plants such as rhubarb, strawberries, or raspberries. Transplanting them before the frost hits allows them to establish a strong root system.
Tomatoes
If you still have tomatoes that are still hanging on the vine, pull the vine out by the roots and hang them upside down in a cool, dark place so they can finish ripening.
Mums
This time of the year, mums look colorful, lively, and can replace any of your annuals that are starting to die off.
Bulbs
Fall is also a great time of the year to plant any daffodils, tulips, lilies, or hyacinths for so they will bloom early spring and most of the time they are on sale. Bulbs should be planted 6-8 weeks before the first frost so they will winter over.
Trees
Fall is also a great time of the year to plant fruit trees such as pears, plums, apples, peaches, cherries, or apricots.
Veggies
Some vegetables such as peas, fava beans, spinach, cabbage, or leaf beets can be sown in fall to overwinter giving you earlier crops the following year!
Have any other fall gardening tips to share with us?! Comment Below!