September and October

As the air suddenly feels crisper and the rains grow longer, autumn is here in the garden. - This time is all about wrapping up, gathering and preparing for closure, but yet, it is still a season of promise.

Collecting and storing seeds for next year’s plantings is a favorite activity of ours, a bonus product of tending lovingly to our garden from spring through summer.

Cleaning out the vegetable beds and removing all plant debris is helpful in preventing that pests and diseases overwinter and worsen in the next season, ensuring a healthy food crop. We tidy up label sticks and support stakes whilst we’re at it, storing it neatly for when they come in handy again in spring. We clean our hand tools, sharpen our blades, and drain the hoses and irrigation lines, so it is all ready to go when we reunite again.

Below are a few other tasks that are helpful in transitioning from the growing season to the soon dormant months of winter.

Gardening: Care for the Autumn Season

  • Cut Back Perennials.

    When the perennials have browned and died back, it is time to cut back any dead growth to give the plants a fresh start for the spring.

    Some some flower varieties are great to leave standing, such as echinacea and black eyed susans, as they create a good food source for birds. Ornamental grasses and seed pods can also be left up over the winter to create stunning visual interest and habitat for birds and beneficial insects!

  • Plant Perennials and Spring-Blooming Bulbs.

    In a lot of cases the fall time before the first frost, can be a great time for planting.

    As the nights lengthen and the days begin to cool off little by little, the soil is still quite warm, providing a perfect environment for plants to focus on their root growth rather than putting energy into spring foliage and flower.

  • Plant Cover Crops.

    Cover crops is an excellent way to protect & enrich the soil.

    There are a variety of different cover crops that are perfect for various needs, whether you are looking to add nitrogen, fight pests, or stabilize erosion-prone soils.

  • Dig & Store Cold-Sensitive Summer Blooming Bulbs.

    If you live in a cold area and you grew frost-sensitive bulbs such as gladiolus and dahlias , you can dig these up in the fall, to save them and replant them in spring.

    It is important to store them properly to prevent rot; in open boxes or paper bags in a cool, dry place is recommended.

  • Divide Mature Perennials.

    Perennials such as Daylilies and Bearded Iris can be divided in the fall and either moved to other places around the garden, or shared with other lucky gardening friends!

  • Protect Sensitive Plants.

    If you have any extra cold-sensitive plants in the garden, it is helpful to protect them with a layer of mulch or natural cloth. If you have cold-sensitive plants growing in mobile containers on the other hand, it is possible to bring them indoors to enjoy them also during the winter months.

Pest removal, mulching and compost.

If you find any diseased or pest-ridden plants in your garden remove any leaves, stems, and whole plants reduce problems the following year.

Planter beds can get a 2 inch layer of compost, to enrich the soil. Precipitation and soil organisms will do the job mixing it in, so there is no need to till it.

After the ground freezes, it is helpful to add a 5-inch-thick layer of bark mulch over the crown of perennials that were planted this growing year and all those that are extra frost-tender. Trees and shrubs should also get mulched around the base to protect from freezing temperatures. Make sure to not let the mulch touch the trunk to prevent rot.

Make sure trees get plenty of water in this season to better tolerate harsh winter conditions.

Do not forget to snip some sprigs of your garden favorites, as cuttings to grow indoors, providing you with some enjoyable winter color!