Fall is a season of transition—and your garden feels it too! As temperatures begin to dip and those cozy sweater-weather days roll in, it’s time to get your outdoor space ready for its winter rest. Taking a little time now to prepare your home garden before the first frost can save you time, money, and effort come spring. These 10 thoughtful and essential fall gardening tasks will keep your garden healthy, beautiful, and better prepared to bounce back when the warmer days return.
What You Might Need
- Gardening gloves
- Pruners and shears
- Mulch (leaves, straw, or bark)
- Compost bin or bags
- Plant covers or garden fabric
- Rake and leaf bags
- Hose or watering can
- Fertilizer for fall application
- Buckets or baskets for harvesting
- Labels or markers for stored bulbs/seeds
- Notebook or garden planner
1. Harvest What’s Left
Before the frost has a chance to damage your tender crops, it’s time to gather what you can. Even if some of your veggies or fruits haven’t fully ripened, they can often continue to mature indoors. Herbs, especially, can be trimmed and dried for winter cooking or bundled for gifts.
How to Do It:
- Pick tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, and any fruit still clinging to branches.
- Cut herbs like basil, rosemary, and thyme to dry or freeze.
- Store the bounty in baskets or breathable bags to reduce spoilage.
- If frost is only a day away, cover still-developing plants overnight with fabric.
2. Clean Up Spent Plants
Once your harvest is done, don’t leave those spent plants in the ground. Dead vegetation can harbor pests, fungus, and diseases that may overwinter in the soil. Cleaning them up gives your garden a fresh start and makes spring prep easier.
How to Do It:
- Pull up dead annuals and vegetable plants by the roots.
- Compost healthy green matter but trash anything with signs of mold, blight, or pest infestations.
- Turn over the top layer of soil lightly to expose any pests to cold air.
3. Cut Back Perennials
Many perennials benefit from being trimmed in the fall, helping them conserve energy and reducing the chance of rot or pest damage. However, some seed heads and grasses can provide visual interest and food for birds through winter.
How to Do It:
- Use sanitized pruners to cut stems back to a few inches above soil.
- Leave some ornamental grasses or plants with seed heads intact if you enjoy winter structure.
- Label areas where you’ve cut plants back to avoid disturbing roots later.
4. Mulch Garden Beds
Mulching in fall is one of the best gifts you can give your garden. It protects root systems from freeze-thaw cycles, preserves soil moisture, and suppresses weed growth come spring.
How to Do It:
- Apply a 2- to 4-inch layer of mulch around perennials, shrubs, and garden beds.
- Use chopped leaves, pine needles, straw, bark chips, or composted mulch.
- Keep mulch a few inches away from stems or trunks to prevent rot.
5. Protect Tender Plants
Some plants aren’t built for cold weather and need extra care before frost sets in. If you’ve been growing citrus trees in containers, or if you have rosemary and lavender in less hardy zones, make sure they’re covered or relocated.
How to Do It:
- Bring container plants indoors or place them in a greenhouse.
- Wrap root zones of tender perennials with burlap or cover with frost cloth.
- Use garden cloches or overturned buckets for a quick DIY shield.
6. Plant Bulbs for Spring Blooms
Fall is prime time for planting bulbs that bloom in early spring. Getting them into the ground now allows them to establish roots before winter and break dormancy just as the snow melts.
How to Do It:
- Choose bulbs like tulips, daffodils, crocuses, or hyacinths.
- Plant in groups of 5–10 for more natural-looking clusters.
- Dig holes two to three times the bulb height deep, pointy side up.
- Water well after planting and cover with mulch for insulation.
7. Rake and Compost Leaves
Fallen leaves can be a hassle, but they’re also a gold mine for compost or mulch. When chopped or layered correctly, they become a rich, organic addition to your garden.
How to Do It:
- Rake leaves regularly and shred them if possible to speed decomposition.
- Add them to your compost bin with green material like grass clippings or vegetable scraps.
- Use unshredded leaves to cover garden beds for natural insulation.
8. Fertilize Trees and Shrubs
While annuals are winding down, trees and shrubs are still actively absorbing nutrients in fall. Feeding them now helps promote strong root growth that benefits them throughout the dormant season.
How to Do It:
- Choose a slow-release fertilizer, ideally high in phosphorus.
- Spread evenly around the dripline, avoiding direct contact with the trunk.
- Water deeply to ensure nutrients reach the roots before soil freezes.
9. Drain Hoses and Store Tools
Protecting your tools and equipment now means they’ll last longer and work better when you need them again. Cold temperatures can crack hoses and rust metal tools if left exposed.
How to Do It:
- Disconnect garden hoses and let them dry completely before storing.
- Coil hoses and hang them in a frost-free shed or basement.
- Clean and sharpen tools, then wipe them with oil to prevent rust.
- Store pots and planters indoors or cover to prevent cracking.
10. Reflect and Plan for Next Year
Before the snow flies, take a few quiet moments to reflect on the growing season. What thrived? What didn’t? What new ideas do you want to try? Use this transition time to dream and prep for your best garden year yet.
How to Do It:
- Make a list of what you planted and what performed well.
- Sketch your garden layout and take photos for reference.
- Jot down ideas for companion planting, color combos, or new raised beds.
- Start a Pinterest board or inspiration folder to gather ideas for next season.
Final Thoughts
Fall is a time to tuck your garden in and say a gentle goodbye to the season. These 10 tasks will not only protect your hard work, but also lay the foundation for a strong, vibrant return in spring. A few weekends of effort now can lead to healthier plants, better harvests, and a whole lot less work later on. So grab your gloves, pour a mug of cider, and enjoy the beauty of gardening in the crisp autumn air.
