Even though the end-of-the-season harvest signals the end to this year's crop, it's already time to start thinking about next year's garden. The fall
If you're planning a new bed for perennials, groundcovers, shrubs or trees to plant next spring, the path to success starts with a good foundation. It's easier to improve soil before plants are in place, so the time to do so is now.
In order to ensure your fall garden matures before the first frost, get it started in mid-summer (typically late July to early August, depending on your hardiness zone).
Fall is the best time to start a new garden.
Pick your spot, lay down some newspaper over your new spot or the addition to your current garden and cover with organic matter deep enough to smother anything growing on the surface. After a winter's worth of time, you will be able to directly plant into your new garden.
It's important to cut back foliage in the fall to protect flowering plants from disease and give them a clean start for regrowth as winter starts to turn into spring. However, there are some plants you can keep around through the winter since they benefit wildlife and still offer visual interest for your home.
Should I clean and till my vegetable garden this fall or early next spring? Answer: Fall clean-up and tillage provide several benefits. Many plant pathogens overwinter in the garden on infected plant debris.
The fall is the best time to add compost or manure to your garden soil. There are many forms of nitrogen that can exist in compost or manure. Not all forms of nitrogen are forms that plants can use. Some forms of nitrogen need to be broken down by bacteria or other plants into forms that are usable.
Cool fall temperatures can make many plants appear dead or dormant, but actually there is a lot going on under the ground. Now is when the roots are growing. Fertilizer that is high in phosphorus is just what you need to promote strong, healthy roots now as well as for beautiful plants in the spring.
"If you do choose to mulch plants in the summer, be sure the mulch is not hugging the plants' stems or trunks, and that it's spread around the area of the plant's canopy," says Bloomfield. As a general rule, though, mulching during late spring and early fall is good enough.
Although September marks the beginning of fall, there are still a few fast growing vegetables that can be planted this month and be harvested before the first frost in most gardening zones. Remember to keep your soil warm by removing all mulch and maybe try using a plastic sheet to trap heat into the soil.
When To Winterize Your Gardens. The best time to start winterizing gardens is after the first hard freeze in the fall. A hard freeze occurs when the temperature gets below freezing overnight, killing off tender annual plants and vegetables.
Fall Feeding for Fertile Fields Fall Fertilization of your shrubs, garden and plants leads to a beautiful, healthy spring garden — it's the ideal time for feeding if you do it right.
Soil testing, removing plant material and adding organic mulches, compost and cover crops are all smart gardening techniques for fall cleanup. Use shredded leaves raked from your lawn to cover vegetable gardens or beds. Photo: Rebecca Krans, MSU Extension.
Remove Summer Edibles, Diseased Plants and Weeds
Strip plants of any remaining fruits and seeds and remove them from garden beds. You can add the plants to a compost pile, if you have one, or toss them in the green wastebin. (Fall is a great time to start composting.)
The Dos and Don'ts of Fall Mulch
Trapped air provides insulation and warmth. Good choices include shredded leaves, weed-free straw and shredded bark.
So, should you remove old mulch? Expert green thumbs contend that getting rid of last year's mulch is completely unnecessary. Mulch gradually breaks down, adding beneficial nutrients and other organic matter to the soil. Removing pre-existing mulch every year only ends up to be extra work and a needless expense.
A layer of mulch about 4 to 6 inches deep over the plants works well. Most perennials will pop through the mulch in spring. If the plants are young, small, or newly planted in fall, you may need to clear some of the mulch in spring so that the plants can emerge without difficulty through the winter protection.
When To Fertilizer Your Lawn in the Fall. The best time to apply your last fertilizer application is between August 15 and October 1. Ideally, your last lawn feeding should take place six to eight weeks before the average first frost in your area.
Fall Fertilizer Timing
For the majority of cool-season lawn owners, apply fertilizer anywhere from September through early November. The further north you garden, the sooner you'll feed your lawn. Fine-tune the timing for your locale by talking with your local extension service or garden center.
Best Fall Lawn Fertilizer
While this fall lawn fertilizer dose is important, an application at the end of October or early November is essential. At that time, apply a fertilizer with a formula of 13-25-12. The push of phosphorus will stimulate root growth through November and even into early December.
To water or not to water? There is some discrepancy on whether or not you should water your lawn right after fertilizing. Our recommendation is to feel free to water in lightly without soaking your lawn, or simply wait until later in the week when you're expecting some rainfall.