How-to Prepare Your Garden for Fall to Ensure a Thriving Spring

As autumn approaches and the vibrant fall foliage begins to paint the landscape, it's the perfect time to shift our focus to preparing our summer garden for the cooler months ahead. While we savour the fruits of our summer gardening labour, it's essential to get ready for fall to ensure your garden thrives when spring returns.

We share expert tips for a successful transition to help you prepare your garden for fall, protect it through the winter and set the stage for a lush and blooming garden next year!

Fallen leaves, or "brown gold" is Mother Nature's natural mulch.

Tip #1: Prepare the Garden Bed Now for New Plants Next Year
Fall is the ideal time to enhance your garden soil before planting new perennials, groundcovers, shrubs or trees in the spring. Begin by clearing your garden beds of debris, including dead plants and weeds, which can harbour pests and diseases that compromise soil health.

Next, conduct a soil test to check pH and nutrient levels. Depending on the results, you may need to adjust the soil pH: use agricultural limestone to raise it, or aluminum sulfate or sulfur to lower it. Follow package instructions based on your soil type and area.

Rake up fallen leaves, which are rich in nutrients and perfect for composting. For best results, shred the leaves with a mulching mower before spreading them as mulch. Apply a layer of 4-6 inches to garden beds, under shrubs and around trees. This mulch will help protect your soil, moderate temperature, retain moisture and suppress weeds through the winter.

Resist temptation to over-prune perennials in the cooler months.

Tip #2: Take Proper Care of Perennials & Annuals
Cut down and remove most annual flowers and plants, composting them if they are healthy. You can try to save some of your favourite annuals such as begonias, coleus, geraniums and fuchsias by taking cuttings in early fall before temperatures drop too much. Place these cuttings in pots by bright windows for winter.

Harvest all fruits and vegetables before they attract animals or set seeds. Remove and compost all dead plants.

For perennials, trim only diseased or dead branches and leaves; avoid cutting back too much, as this can encourage new growth that may not survive colder temperatures. Leave seedpods and flower heads for winter interest and to provide food for birds. It’s best to wait until spring to cut down perennials fully. Protect newly planted trees by staking them and use row covers or cloches to shield younger plants from early frosts. Also, delay dividing plants until spring to save and store nutrients over the winter.

Spring bulbs bring a joyful and colourful welcome to spring.

Tip #3: There’s Still Time to Plant Now
As long as the ground isn’t frozen, fall is a great time to plant certain bulbs. This includes garlic, which you can harvest next summer, and spring bulbs like daffodils, tulips, and alliums for a colourful start to spring. Plant these bulbs in a sunny location, 2-3 inches deep, and 4-6 inches apart with the pointy end facing up.

Early September is also an optimal time for re-seeding lawns. Keep newly seeded areas consistently moist and plan to fertilize your lawn during the first week of November. Continue mowing until frost arrives and make sure to clear the lawn of leaves and debris before snow falls to prevent snow mold.

Keep tools in their prime for years to come.

Tip #4: Optimize Your Gardening Skills with These Best Practices
Fall clean-up is a perfect opportunity to review your garden’s performance over the year. Take note of what worked well and what didn’t, as this information is invaluable for planning next year’s garden.

Ensure you drain and shut off water supplies to hoses and irrigation systems to avoid freezing, which can cause them to crack or burst. Bring in valuable pots and containers, especially those made of clay or ceramics, to prevent damage from freezing temperatures. Finally, clean, sharpen and oil your garden tools and equipment before storing them for the season. This will help maintain their functionality and longevity, ensuring they’re ready for the next gardening season.

By following these expert tips, you can give your garden a head start for the next growing season and ensure it enjoys a well-deserved winter rest.

Let us know in the comments below if you have your own seasonal garden transition tips you’d like to share with us and our readers!

We at OFM look forward to helping you grow a vibrant and beautiful garden each season. Plan your garden wisely by browsing our extensive selection of Garden and Garden Care products, including perennials, annuals, vegetable plants, organic soil and more. Until then - may good food, friends and family keep you warm during the upcoming cooler months!

Sources
 Fall’s the best time to prep garden soil for new plants
 Putting the Garden to Bed: A Toronto Master Gardeners Guide
 7 tips for putting your garden to bed this fall