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10 autumn chores to do right now for a beautiful spring garden
Are these items on your gardening to-do list? They should be
When the last of the autumn harvest comes out of the ground and the calendar shows the first frost date looming, then you know your days in the garden are numbered – for this season anyway.
But before you just toss all those tools in the shed, there are a few things you can do now that will set you up for a strong growing season come spring.
So scan our seasonal to-do list, and see if there's anything here that you've overlooked, that you might want to get done while the ground is still soft. Most of these things won't take up a lot of time, but trust us, you'll be glad come March that you did them.
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Clean Out the Veggie Patch
"Clear out summer crop debris in your vegetable garden," says Colin McCrate, founder of Seattle Urban Farm Company and producer of the gardening podcast Encyclopedia Botanica.
"By the end of the season, most edibles are full of disease spores that can overwinter. Remove plants completely. It's better for the long-term health of your garden."
But Don't Over-Clean
In the flower garden, however, "some plants should be left intact over the winter to protect the crown and buds from cold and to prevent excessive winter dieback," says Stacey Hirvela, horticulturalist with Spring Meadow Nursery.
It's fine to remove dead annuals and cut back perennials whose foliage is susceptible to disease. But plants such as Russian sage, hydrangeas, butterfly bush, or any woody shrub that requires pruners to remove stems should be left alone until spring.
Keep Reading: 11 perennials to cut back in the autumn (and the ones you shouldn't touch)
Do a Soil Test
If your garden didn't perform well this year, now is a good time to take a soil sample. The RHS offers a testing service to do the hard work for you.
Results will indicate exactly what your soil lacks as well as what you need to add in what quantities. "At the very least, you'll be aware of what you'll need to do next spring," says McCrate.
Add Compost to Your Vegetable Garden
Even if you don't do a soil test, add a 2-inch layer of compost right on top of the garden. after cleaning up. "It covers the bed with nutrients that leach down into the soil and provides a tidy seedbed for planting next spring," says McCrate.
"There's no need to till it in. It's a low-energy, efficient use of labor." It's fine to do this task any time up until the snow flies.
Put Down Mulch
Once you've composted, put down 2- to 3-inches of organic mulch such as shredded bark, pine straw, or chopped leaves on your beds.
"Mulch protects the organic matter in the soil, which can be eroded by winter winds," says Hirvela.
"It also insulates roots and helps prevent plants from heaving out of the ground due to temperature fluctuations." Over time, mulch also breaks down and improves your soil
How much mulch do you need? Here's the easiest way to calculate
Plant Bulbs
If you bought bulbs but haven't had a chance to plant them yet, it's not too late to get them in the ground. If fact, for daffodils, waiting to plant bulbs until after a killing frost is ideal.
"You can plant bulbs all the way into December, as long as the ground isn't frozen," says Hirvela. Bonus: Garden centres have bulbs on clearance now, so grab a few good deals and dig some holes.
Read our guides to planting tulip and snowdrop bulbs this autumn.
Put Away Your Pots
Winter's freeze/thaw cycle can crack ceramic and clay pots if left outdoors – especially unglazed terra cotta pots.
Dump the soil, which is spent and not reusable for next year, and store pots in the shed, garage, or basement. Stack rows of pots using 2x4s as dividers if you're short on storage space.
Keep reading: Winter can wreck your terracotta pots. Here's how to protect them
Clean Your Tools
Keep your tools in good working condition by giving them a little TLC before they go away for the winter. Use a wire brush to knock off soil, then apply a light coat of oil. WD40 or mineral oil work well, but even a kitchen oil such as canola can prevent rusting, suggests Hirvela.
You can also sand wooden tool handles to remove splinters. Spray a coat of a disinfectant such as Lysol on the cutting surfaces of pruners or clippers to preclude spreading diseases from one plant to another next year.
Turn Off Water to Outside Spigots
Outdoor faucets can freeze if you don't shut off the water supply to them, leading to leaks when you use them next spring. Look for the water shutoff valve, then open the faucet until any remaining water drips out.
You can also purchase frost-free valves now that will stop the water supply deeper into the house, to help prevent frozen water from breaking spigots.
Keep a Garden Journal
The best way to track what worked and what didn't from year to year is to keep a garden journal – and now is the time to update (or start) yours.
Jot down your successes and failures of the season now, while you still recall the details, and save plant tags when possible.
"It's helpful for remembering what varieties you liked or didn't like when you're planning next year's garden and ordering seeds," says McCrate.
Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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