Crisp air. Leaves changing color. Leaves falling from trees. Raking leaves. Mulching leaves. Putting leaves in compost bins. Doing it all over again.
Fall gardening chores don’t stop with staying ahead of leaves (or just keeping up with them). There are other jobs to be done in the fall garden.
Lawn Care
- Time to add compost or organic fertilizers to the lawn. (See Fall Lawn Care).
Perennial Care
- Mulch perennials (with organic mulch, of course). About three to six inches of mulch beneath shrubs will do just fine. This will help keep the soil at a more constant temperature and will help keep them from freezing. It will also conserve water in the soil and discourage weed growth.
- It’s also time to divide many perennials.
Annuals
- It’s time for pansies. Also plant snapdragons, dianthus, ornamental cabbages and violets.
Shrub Care
- Plant shrubs now.
- Clean debris from under shrubs. Insects, insect eggs and larvae can over winter in debris.
- Add mulch.
- Rose plantings. You can plant roses now.
Tree Care
- Fall is a great time to plant trees. Remember, don’t amend the soil. Instead, use the soil dug from the hole to backfill around the new tree’s rootball.
- Spray trees with Neem oil or another organic oil to control overwintering insects.
- Mulch under trees. Make sure not to mound the mulch around the trunk. Instead, donut it around the tree, leaving several inches between the trunk and the mulch. This will discourage insects, help strengthen the root system of the tree, and keep moisture away from the trunk.
Planting bulbs
- Put spring-flowering bulbs in the ground now. This includes tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, crocus and others. Follow instructions for amending soil and depth of planting.
Vegetable Plantings
- A good cover crop like winter legumes, collards, kale, and others can add nutrients back into the soil and provide edible greens too.
- Other cover crops include clover, field peas, vetches, oats, rye and wheat. Legumes like clover, peas and vetches help fix nitrogen in the soil. These will also help reduce erosion and weed infestations.
Taking Care of Wildlife
- Gardeners who like wildlife, can take this opportunity to make sure birdbaths have water (and keep them filled), keep bird feeders filled, and provide food for squirrels. Overwintering and migrating birds alike benefit greatly from food provided by homeowners and gardeners. If water is scarce, birdbaths close to the ground may attract nocturnal animals (like raccoons). Deer (and in some areas, elk and antelope) may drink from birdbaths that are too high from the ground for smaller animals.