Preparing your lawn and garden for fall is essential to keep your outdoor spaces healthy and beautiful throughout the colder months. With a few simple steps, you can set up your lawn, plants, and garden beds to endure the winter and come back thriving in spring. Here’s how to get your garden ready for fall and beyond.
Preparing your lawn and garden in the fall takes a bit of time but is well worth the effort. By cleaning, fertilizing, and insulating your outdoor spaces, you’re setting the stage for a healthy, beautiful landscape in the spring. Plus, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing your garden is ready to weather the winter months!
1. Start with a Thorough Clean-Up
A clean yard makes all the other tasks easier and reduces the risk of pests and disease in your lawn and garden:- Rake leaves: Remove fallen leaves from the lawn, as leaving them can cause mold growth and block sunlight.
- Remove debris: Clear any branches, dead plants, or weeds from flower beds, gardens, and around shrubs.
- Trim overgrown plants: Cut back any perennials or shrubs that need it, focusing on dead or diseased branches. Pruning now helps plants stay healthy and prepares them for the dormant winter period.
2. Aerate and Fertilize Your Lawn
Fall is an excellent time to aerate and fertilize, as it allows nutrients to reach the soil and roots more effectively:- Aeration: Aerating your lawn helps reduce soil compaction, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. If your lawn is small, a handheld aerator can work, but for larger lawns, consider renting a core aerator.
- Fertilizing: Choose a high-quality, slow-release fertilizer designed for fall. Fertilizing in the fall gives grass roots the nutrients they need to stay healthy and green through winter and encourages early spring growth.
3. Overseed Bare Patches in Your Lawn
Fall is one of the best times to overseed because the soil is still warm, and the cool air is ideal for grass seed germination:- Choose the right seed: Look for a seed blend suitable for your climate and sun exposure (full sun, partial shade, etc.).
- Spread the seed evenly: Use a spreader or sprinkle by hand for smaller patches. Lightly rake the area after seeding to help the seed contact the soil.
- Water regularly: Keep the seeded areas moist until the new grass is established. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to mold growth.
4. Protect Your Garden Beds
Adding a layer of mulch is beneficial to plants, providing insulation and conserving moisture through the winter:- Apply a thick layer of mulch: Spread mulch over flower beds, around trees, and in vegetable gardens. Aim for about 2-3 inches of mulch to protect roots.
- Avoid covering stems: Mulch should be spread around the base of plants, not directly against stems, to prevent rot.
- Use compost for extra nutrients: Consider adding compost around perennials or in garden beds. Compost slowly releases nutrients over time, keeping the soil healthy and fertile.
5. Plant Fall Bulbs for Spring Blooms
Planting bulbs in the fall means a burst of color in spring when the snow melts and the warmer temperatures return:- Choose the right bulbs: Daffodils, tulips, crocuses, and hyacinths are popular choices that thrive when planted in the fall.
- Plant at the right depth: Most bulbs should be planted about three times their height in depth. Check the specific requirements for each type of bulb.
- Water thoroughly: After planting, water the bulbs to encourage root growth, then cover with mulch to insulate against winter weather.
6. Divide and Replant Perennials
Dividing perennials in the fall keeps them healthy and helps them spread, giving you more blooms each season:- Dig up and separate: Carefully dig up the plant’s root ball and divide it into smaller clumps. Each new section should have healthy roots and leaves.
- Replant in fresh soil: Replant each division in prepared soil, spacing them according to the plant’s needs.
- Water and mulch: Water each new planting thoroughly and add mulch around the base for protection.
7. Wrap Trees and Shrubs (If Needed)
For tender plants and younger trees, wrapping can help protect them from winter winds, frost, and heavy snowfall:- Use burlap or tree wraps: Wrap trees and shrubs loosely in burlap or commercial plant covers, especially for young trees, evergreens, or any plant sensitive to cold.
- Add a protective barrier: Place a wire mesh or wrap around the base of younger trees to protect against rodents and deer.
- Water evergreens before winter: Evergreens need a good soak before winter, as they continue to lose moisture during the cold months.
8. Prepare and Store Garden Tools
Don’t forget to take care of the tools you’ll need in the spring:- Clean and oil tools: Remove dirt and rust from garden tools, then lightly coat them with oil to prevent further rust.
- Store hoses and sprinklers: Drain garden hoses and store them in a dry place to prevent cracking from freezing temperatures.
- Sharpen blades: Sharpen the blades on pruners, shears, and other tools so they’re ready for spring planting and pruning.
9. Harvest Remaining Vegetables and Herbs
If you have a vegetable garden, fall is the time to pick the last of your produce:- Harvest vegetables: Pick any remaining crops, including root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, and beets that do well in cooler temperatures.
- Cut back herbs: Harvest herbs like basil, thyme, and parsley. You can dry or freeze these herbs for winter cooking.
- Compost plant remains: Once you’ve harvested everything, remove any dead plants from the garden beds and add them to your compost pile.
10. Consider a Final Lawn Mowing
One last lawn mowing, at a slightly shorter height, can keep your grass in good shape as it goes dormant:- Set mower height lower: Lower your mower by about an inch, but avoid cutting too short, as this can stress the grass.
- Leave the clippings: Grass clippings can act as a natural mulch, providing a bit of extra protection and nutrients.