Front planting bed with several “new” plants added
Fall Gardening Clean-up: Prepping Your Garden for a Healthy Winter and Spring
As the vibrant colors of summer fade and the crisp air of fall sets in, it’s time to start thinking about fall gardening clean-up. Properly preparing your garden in the autumn can ensure that your plants and soil remain healthy over the winter and emerge strong and vibrant in the spring. Here’s a guide to help you get your garden ready for the colder months.
1. Clear Out Spent Plants
By fall, many annuals and vegetables have completed their life cycle. It’s important to remove spent plants, as leaving them in the ground can invite pests and diseases to overwinter. Compost healthy plant material, but if a plant was diseased or infested with pests, discard it to prevent the spread of these issues in the next growing season.
2. Weed Thoroughly
Weeds not only steal nutrients from your plants, but they can also harbor pests and diseases. A thorough weeding in the fall is crucial, as it prevents weeds from setting seeds or taking root for next spring. Some weeds can survive the winter, making it more challenging to get rid of them in the warmer months.
3. Cut Back and Divide Perennials
Many perennials benefit from being cut back in the fall to help maintain their health and appearance. Plants like hostas, daylilies, and peonies should be trimmed back to a few inches above the soil. However, some perennials, like ornamental grasses or coneflowers, provide winter interest and shelter for beneficial insects, so consider leaving these standing until early spring.
Free Plants! Now is the time to dig and divide perennials that have gotten too large for their space. Dividing perennials can seem like a daunting task but it can be very simple. Tip: Plan to dig and divide the day after a rain. The soil will be nice and moist, this will be easier to get your shovel down below the root ball. Once you have your perennial dug, section off a good size piece with the sharp part of your shovel. Try to leave some soil on the roots. Leaving soil and transplanting to a new location results in less transplant shock.
Perennial Grass that will be divided, part replanted and several parts relocated to new spaces.
4. Clean Up Fallen Leaves
While a thin layer of leaves can serve as mulch, too many can smother plants and create an ideal environment for fungal diseases. Rake up excess leaves, especially those that fall on your lawn or in flower beds. These can be composted to provide rich organic matter for your garden, or used as mulch after shredding. I like to use our riding lawn mower to mulch up fallen leave and spread them over my garden raised beds. Leaf compost is a great rich soil amendment and it’s free!
5. Amend Your Soil
Fall is an excellent time to give your soil some extra care. Adding compost, aged manure, or organic matter in the fall gives it time to break down and enrich the soil over the winter. Consider testing your soil to determine if it needs specific amendments like lime to adjust the pH or certain nutrients to improve fertility. An old-timer garlic farmer once told me add lime to the planting bed before planting garlic in the fall to give it a good head start. The fertilize several times in the spring and early summer.
6. Mulch for Protection
Adding a layer of mulch around the base of your plants helps to insulate roots and regulate soil temperatures. It also helps retain moisture and prevents erosion during the winter months. For perennials, trees, and shrubs, mulch will provide protection from freezing temperatures and reduce heaving caused by freeze-thaw cycles. If you have voles or field mice, take note not to keep mulched leaves or dead plant material close to the house, sheds or greenhouses. This is the perfect environment for them to nest and create havoc in your interior spaces.
7. Protect Trees and Shrubs
Wrapping delicate trees and shrubs with burlap can shield them from harsh winter winds and prevent snow and ice damage. Protect young trees from rodents by wrapping their trunks with hardware cloth or a tree guard. Try not to prune trees and shrubs in late fall. If the weather warms slightly in cold climates, this may trigger the trees and shrubs to shoot off new growth. All this new growth will be nipped in the frosts and could cause disease in the shrub.
8. Clean and Store Garden Tools
Once your garden clean-up is complete, take time to clean and sharpen your garden tools. Remove any dirt, sap, or rust, and lightly oil metal parts to prevent corrosion over the winter. Store tools in a dry place, ensuring they’re ready to go when spring rolls around.
9. Plant Fall Bulbs and Garlic
Fall is the perfect time to plant spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, and crocuses. Plant them before the ground freezes so they can establish roots during the cold months. Garlic can be planted in the fall, where it will overwinter and be ready for harvest the following summer. You can also decide to dig other bulb flowers such as irises. The bulbs will be tightly grouped underground. Dig the entire plant and gently pull and separate the bulbs. You’ll see there will be roots growing off each section. You can tell when an iris needs to be divided. When it is in bloom, there will be Iris leaves and flowers in a circle with a dead looking spot in the middle. Once separated replant a couple of the bulbs back in place and move the rest to other locations around your yard or pot them up and send them off to new homes with friends.
10. Consider Cover Crops
If you have vegetable beds or empty spaces in your garden, planting a cover crop such as winter rye or clover can help protect your soil over the winter. Cover crops prevent erosion, improve soil structure, and add nutrients to the soil when tilled under in the spring. This is not entirely necessary as you can also mulch the planting beds with shredded leaves. But if you don’t have access to shredded leaves in the fall, a cover crop would be a great addition.
Close out the growing season and prepare for winter rest.
Taking the time to clean up your garden in the fall not only keeps it looking neat, but it also sets the stage for a healthier and more productive garden come spring. By removing debris, protecting plants, and nurturing your soil, you’ll ensure that your garden can thrive through the winter and bounce back stronger than ever next season. Happy gardening!
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