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Fall can still keep a gardener plenty busy! From planting bulbs, finishing harvests, and prepping for next season, there is still plenty to do. Be sure to checkout helpinghomestead.com for other gardening tips and to find help with flora and fauna when you travel.  

Planting in the Fall

As long as you’re not starting from seeds, there are some plants you can wait to put in until fall and then can enjoy for the whole season.

Mums

• Hearty mums should go in the ground and will come back each year, even if you plant in the fall.
• Regular mums are the classic go-to for fall planters. They can handle nights that dip down below freezing and will probably be the last plant you have to cut down once winter is beginning. 

Asters

• Even though these perennials see the most growth in spring and summer, they flower in late august or early September. It’s so nice to have a pop of color when most of the other flowers are on their way out.

Bulbs

Fall is the time to put in your spring bulbs. It is good to try and wait after the ground is soft from recent rain to plant these, as many of them require 6” holes to avoid your hard work being harvested early by squirrels. 

• Garlic should be in a couple weeks before the first frost, so check timelines based on your zone. 
• Be sure to check things like soil and sun requirements and plant height. Tulips especially come in a variety of heights, so make sure you’re buying what you want! We have tulips that grow over two feet tall in our front yard which I love, but important to note that they do tend to droop quite a bit and do not stand up tall like traditional tulips do. 
• Gardener’s tip: Plant your bulbs before cutting down any perennials. That way you know exactly where anything will be growing in and are happy with your placement
• Variety: even tulips come in so many colors and sizes. I love my long stem tulips that give a nice dramatic start to spring
  • If you want blooms longer, plant different bulbs that tend to bloom at different times. Around here, daffodils always open first and sometimes tulips are late. Planting both will give you color a bit longer. 

Harvesting Herbs

• Make the most of any left over herbs in  your garden before the first freeze. You can dry out leaves to use all year in your kitchen.
• Basil and parsley can be made into pesto and frozen in batches for quick, fresh tasting pasta all year long.
• Veggies: for fall harvest vegetables, check your zone’s recommendations and make sure you don’t wait too long to harvest!

Prepping for Next Season

Even though you might be eagerly awaiting being done tending to the garden for a few months, a little prepping now will go a long way in the spring. 

Garden Beds

• Cutting down plants, weeding, and fertilizing are all best to do in the fall to prep your beds for the next season. If you have any newer, large perennials that don’t get cut down, mulching can add a bit of insulation to help them get through winter, particularly their first one.

Filling Raised Beds

• There are several things you can fill beds with to not spend a fortune on dirt, but you have to maintain a good balance.
• Depth of your bed does matter - deeper beds can have plenty of stone and wood in the bottom as plant roots likely won’t reach that far.

• Finally, you do need some dirt, but this doesn’t have to break the bank. Check your local dump which may have discounted or even free dirt. They may be able to help you with other fillers as well

Protecting Perennials

• Some trees and shrubs may require wrapping to avoid succumbing to a harsh winter, especially when they’re young.
  • Trees that need to be wrapped: newly planted or thin-bark trees: maple, poplar, aspen, sycamore, linden
  • There are also some plants that can winter inside! We live in zone 4, and I can keep my potted hibiscus alive if I cut it down and keep it in our heated garage until spring. 

Grass/Lawn Care

• Even though you’re looking forward to being done with this chore for the season, be thoughtful about how you are cutting and caring for your grass in the fall. This is a good time for irrigation and fertilizing the lawn. 
• Leaves: As long as it’s a manageable amount, mowing leaves can allow some composting to occur right on your lawn. Getting excess into your compost bin will give you more compost to use next spring as well. 

Garden and Landscape Projects

• If you are anticipating any major projects, expansions, or large undertakings in your garden for next season, you will do yourself a favor by getting what you can done now.
  • We are redoing our garden space next year. Our fall project is assembling raised beds, beginning their base layers, and cleaning/leveling the area. That way, we will be ready to plant as soon as it’s warm enough. 

Hopefully this gives you plenty to work on before winter! Don’t forget to sign up for free on helpinghomestead.com for other gardening tips and to find or provide farm sitting services in your community!

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