The secret in maintaining a garden doesn’t begin at spring but in autumn. It is a season to take the necessary steps to protect your plants and enrich your soil to have an effortless and abundant spring garden. Autumn presents itself with beauty in the colours it exhibits with many variations of orange, red, gold and bronze foliage. It is truly a remarkable season to watch this transformation as the climate transitions from the hot temperatures into cooler conditions.
While this change is occurring, it is the season to adjust the garden in its preparation for winter. This means taking action in order to maintain a heathy garden for the upcoming spring season. In this post we will examine the steps needed for cleaning the space, soil care, plant protection and tool maintenance.
Why Preparation is Essential
Preparation may seem futile to many thinking that nature will just take care of these plants. However, it is an important step that prepares the space to flourish for the next season. By taking an inventory of which plants were damaged and assessing those which need to be discarded. This task can save you the time and money as a preventative measure against pests and other diseases. In the long run this helps to control the soil health and stop the spread of infections that can contaminate the area by breaking their cycle.
Garden Task for Clearing and Cleaning
Start by removing annuals from beds not only for aesthetics but for disease control. Taking control of the dead leaves by raking, mulching, composting and trimming dead branches. If you encounter plants affected by diseases it is best to discard it safely and not add it to the compost otherwise the entire compose will be overtaken with this issue.
It is also important to remove weeds from the soil before the winter. This prevents them from putting seeds into the ground and having them returning during the next season. This can be a bit tedious but is important to prevent these plants from spreading.
Improving your Soil
With the annuals removed from the space adding a layer of compost or aged manure is a good way to replenish the nutrients that have been remove and begin the process of improving the soil for the next planting season. You can also use ground cover crops like clover, or grasses like rye, as an alternative to protect the soil and this will help to control erosion of the soil especially because winter or rainy periods will cause some shifting of the soil. This helps to stabilize the ground from any erosion that can occur.
The benefit of using aged manure is for the improvement of the soil structure. It adds organic materials, providing nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium which are released slowly into the soil and provides a continuous supply of food for them. Aged manure is preferred because it acts as a good suppression for weeds and will not cause burns and damage the plant.
It is a safer alternative than using fresh manure which have been known to cause burns in plants because of the ammonia. The Fall season can also be a good time to test the soil to see if there are any deficiencies and make the adjustment needed. You can also find these kits available online which is more convenient and a cheaper alternative instead of hiring someone to test it for you which can be costly.
Prepare Trees and Shrubs
Perennials need to be separated into groups. Those that have a dense root system like Hostas would make a perfect match for division which can be done up to six weeks before the freezing period begins. This allows the root system to become adjusted and eventually they will establish new roots before the winter. A preventative measure to reduce any shock to the plant enabling it to adjust quickly for the spring season. The fall season is the best time for replanting as the temperatures are in between hot and cold. This takes into account the cooler temperatures as more beneficial to the survival rate for any adjustments and the roots to become established. To help with this adjustment water them up to two days before the separation begins, plant immediately and add mulch to keep the plant’s moisture in which prevents dehydration during winter.
Pruning
Some plants benefit from pruning during the right seasons. Fruit trees or any plants affected by disease should be pruned during this period. Others are better for spring enabling some provision of food and shelter for wildlife. The winter season is unpredictable and that means you can experience harsh to mild weather. By adding mulch and wrapping sensitive plants ensures and prolong their growth. Additionally giving them a good soaking and adding mulch after will help to prevent evaporation during this period. I wrote an article on some preparations for fall that you may want to consider in the link below.
https://plantsfordecor.com/blogs/articles/preparing-your-garden-as-the-seasons-change
You can also remove plants that are in containers that you consider fragile and will need more attention by bringing them indoors. A green house or a warm sheltered area would be sufficient and keeping them in groups together helps to keep them warm. Other trees or shrubs outdoors can be wrapped in burlap or using frost blankets will help to keep them sheltered to avoiding cracks from the frost. They are also beneficial in helping to control rodents from destroying the root system of the plant.
Lawn Care
While it is customary to take care of all our plant needs in autumn, we sometimes forget the important lawn care. The soil becomes compact and will need to be aerated, and a good fertilizer is needed to keep the root system growing strong. Aeration is essential for loosening the soil. Having a soil that is too compact prevents the flow of nutrients from getting through to the root system. This helps for a healthier soil where nutrients can be absorbed efficiently. The results will produce a healthier grass. Raking your lawn is a method of removing the dead layers and allowing the new grass to grow and develop. Once this is complete adding organic matter will improve its health and allowing it to flourish. Testing it will allow you to make any adjustments to improve or amend the pH levels.
Making Plans for Spring
Any adjustment that is desired can be made by making a sketch of what can be improved with the garden to make the space more efficient or for the aesthetics. If you are thinking of adding bulbs like tulips getting a head start is recommended. Plant when the temperature cools with adequate spacing and placing a few bulbs in the same hole has its advantage and creates a floral arrangement that grows in bunches. They require full sunshine with water and a well-drained soil and complete with mulch which helps to keep the moisture in.
Final Harvesting
Save yourself some money by gathering the final crops which can be preserved or stored for the winter. Taking some time to collect the seeds especially from harvest that have produced a good crop like tomatoes or cucumbers are useful to keep and replant for the next season and also gives you the chance to get the seedlings started early indoors and have a bountiful garden in the summer. Some crops have an extended time for harvesting and they are considered cool season crops. Planting is usually done in late summer and will go into winter depending on the temperature. Broccoli, spinach and kale are some that can be used to extend the garden period for a longer time.
I wrote an article on this topic, and I have included a link blow for more information.
https://plantsfordecor.com/blogs/articles/functional-garden-that-provides-food-for-cold-climates
Winterize your Garden Tools and Structures
This is the perfect time to take care of your tools and improve structures that support your garden like raised beds. This prevents any procrastination of getting this job done before spring arrives. Check for damages or loose boards that are usually common with raised gardens or frames that need repairs. By thoroughly inspecting green houses will help to avoid costly repairs in the future.
Drain and store hoses in a dry place to avoid cracking from freezing temperatures and shut off outdoor faucets. Sharpen tools, sheers and pruners and by adding a light coating of oil will help to keep them lasting a long time.
Planning Ahead for the Next Season
It is good time to get your seeds ordered ahead of time before your preferred choice is sold out. This guarantees that your best option will be in the ground for the next planting season. Many like to wait until the last-minute hoping to have their first choice and end up choosing something secondary because the varieties are usually sold out first. This allows you to make crop rotation active in the garden to keep the soil reproducing yields. At the end of the season keep a journal to see what worked and what changes you can make to produce improvement in yields. The journal tells the story of the history of the plant like and gives a reminder of lessons learned and how to make improvement. It also records failures and accomplishments.
Expect a Vibrant Season Ahead
As we enter the winter season where everything in the garden comes to a halt. Nothing is growing and the place that once was flourishing with greenery has become white with snow. It is time when the garden goes to rest along with the trees and everything that blooms. It is knowing that the preparations that have been made will give you hope that the space will recover and become vibrant and busting with life once the cold temperatures leaves.
Safeguards have been in place protecting the space and trees have their protective layers to prevent the frost from destroying them. By protecting your plants, adding nutrients to your soil and taking care of your tools. You have become better prepared for the arrival of the spring season.
Image generated with the help of AI using ChatGPT by OpenAI.