Garden overload! Fall is a beautiful time of year to be working outdoors, but it can also be overwhelming with so many garden chores that need attention. It’s time to mop up from summer and get ready for the next garden season all at once. Yet, mixed in there are all sorts of tasks that are best left until spring. I suspect a lot of people just give up because it’s all too much {says, Her Majesty, raising a somewhat guilty hand}—and, good news, that’s not a bad thing.
Let me show you how I prioritize my list and let the really-not-so-important stuff slide.
You can print out a handy checklist of fall garden tasks here.
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Something Has to Give
To decrease the stress (and regrets), I have a priority system that ensures the really important stuff gets done and the nice-to-get-done-but-not-essential stuff is tended to only if time permits. Tasks commonly assigned to fall gardening that aren’t actually beneficial, such as removing old plant growth that the birds rely on for the winter, never make the list.
I have it on good authority that the world will not end if I don’t plant early-blooming spring bulbs, but it will be a real waste if current, established plants perish simply because I failed to provide some cold weather protection. You get the idea. All efforts are put into real pay-offs and the rest can wait.
I’ll show you how I set my tasks in order of urgency, and then do what I can. If winter invites itself to the party a little too early, at least the most important stuff done. And if I’m lucky, I’ll get the bulbs in the ground too.
Grow
Set Priorities and Let Go of the Rest
1. Protect what you have.
Give priority to protecting the plants, water features, tools, and garden art you already have. To me, older, established plants are the most valuable asset in my garden (not just monetarily but aesthetically). Everything else is easier and less expensive to replace if damaged during the cold season.
Mulch, leaves, and cover crops protect plants and soil, help retain moisture, and gradually decompose further enriching the soil.
Tender plants include annuals that still have some life in them but need to be indoors in a greenhouse or other growing area during the winter.
Some semi-hardy plants such as potted fig trees may also need special care.
- How to over-winter fig trees (and other semi-hardy plants).
- How to over-winter geraniums (as houseplants or in storage).
Ponds and water features may also need winter protection depending on the size of your pond, the setup, the type of aquatic plants you have, fish, and your climate.
Any breakable garden art (that could snap from the cold) should be stored in a shed or garage.
Good garden tools can be expensive but can also last a lifetime (and then some) with proper care. Fall is an excellent time to make any necessary repairs, sharpen and oil them, and have everything organized and ready to go in the spring. But life will continue as we know it if you put this off until later winter or spring.
Some plants benefit from end-of-season pruning and trimming. Others need late-winter care (like apple trees), and the rest can wait until you’re tidying up in the spring. It’s too numerous to list every plant, but have a look at your garden and divide your list into those that need care now and those that do not or can wait.
Tidy up but not too much! Garden debris including old branches, leaves, seed pods…provide essential food sources and habitat for overwintering insects, birds, and other wildlife. Don’t tidy up so much that you neglect the wild things that bring life to the garden.
2. Grow fall and winter veggies.
For most of us, growing vegetables in the fall and winter is not critical, but it’s sure nice. One of the keys to successful winter food growing is to start the crops late summer or early fall.
Where you put cold weather veggie growing on the priority list is up to you, but do take note that these crops need an early start to get their roots established before the cold sets in, so if you think you want to grow some, get the plants started early or find a source for starter plants.
3. Plant for spring.
There are many flower seeds and, of course, spring bulbs that require fall planting.
- 30+ Flower seeds to sow in the fall
- 14 tips for a better spring garden (including planting garlic)
- More on bulbs to plant in the fall
~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛
P.S.
And don’t forget to have your winter compost bin ready to go.