Five Gardening Tips for Fall

Fall is upon us and you may be thinking that there will be nothing for you to do in the garden. But not so! There are still some gardening activities that will keep you busy in the weeks ahead. Depending on your region of the country, Fall can be a busy time in the garden.

Here are 5 tips for preparing your garden for Fall.

First, you can add some color and life to your garden as well as prepare it for winter.

1. Add some color.

As the leaves change hues you can add some of that color to your garden. Chrysanthemums are available in a variety of colors: reds, yellows, bronzes,and even purples. This is the season to plant these and take advantage of the naturally-occuring color changes going on around your garden. And this addition will pay dividends in future seasons because mums will return each year – they’re perennials. Take note of this as you decide on their placement. These mums will be more than a temporary part of your garden.

2. Get rid of the weeds before they put out seeds.

Those pesky invaders are about to prepare for next year’s “crop.” As they go to seed, they plant the sources of their next invasion all over your yard. The removal job of may be easier if your Fall is a rainy time. It’s easier to pull or hoe weeds out of wet soil than dry. Next Spring you’ll be glad you did this extra work now to make your job easier then.

Here’s another tip on Fall weed control: Once the plants are spent for the season, lay down several layers of newspaper on your garden. Place rocks or soil to anchor the newspapers. By Spring the weeds will have been deprived of the light and air they need to sprout. The newspaper will decompose and can be tilled into the soil to enrich it. Then, apply another layer in the Spring before planting. This time, punch holes in the newspaper layer to plant again.

3. Eliminate hiding places for pests.

Remove dead leaves and plants from your garden before Winter comes. Many invasive and annoying pests spend Winter living beneath leaves, boards, tools and other things left on the ground. Depending on the area you are in, you may find that letting a light layer of falling leaves collect aids as a mulch and compost.

4. Plant Spring bulbs.

Flowers like hyacinths and daffodils are typically planted in the fall so they can complete their growth cycle in time to come up in spring. Garlic will need to be planted in the garden now.

5. Prune your trees and shrubs.

In the fall, trees and shrubs are in a dormant state so planting and pruning are less shocking to the plant. This is also the best time to plant new ones.

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