Yes, you should absolutely trim the bottom leaves of your tomato plants. Pruning the lower 12 to 18 inches of foliage removes leaves that touch the ground, creates a "splash barrier" to prevent soil-borne diseases from reaching the plant, and improves airflow to keep foliage dry and pest-free.
Remove bottom leaves from tomato plants once the plant reaches a height of 2 to 3 feet, or when the first cluster of fruit (truss) begins to form. Always remove any foliage touching the soil, as wet leaves are magnets for soil-borne fungal diseases.
Perennials (Peonies, Daylilies, and Iris): Cut back perennials that have finished blooming to tidy up the garden and reduce pest issues. For plants like peonies, remove foliage to prevent overwintering fungal spores. While some plants benefit from fall pruning, others are best left untouched until spring.
To help improve airflow and cut down on the chance of disease, remove the leaves along the bottom 12 inches of the stems of indeterminate tomato plants.
Prune tomato plants by removing the "suckers" (small shoots in leaf axils), lower leaves touching the soil, and any diseased foliage to improve airflow and increase fruit size. Focus on removing growth below the first fruit cluster, particularly on indeterminate (vining) types, while keeping the plant, especially the main stem, well-ventilated.
For many, it's best to avoid pruning in the fall because it can stimulate new growth that will be damaged by cold. On the other hand, there are a few plants to prune in October, especially if you want to keep your garden looking gorgeous right through to spring.
Coffee grounds provide tomato plants with a mild nitrogen boost, improve soil drainage, and help deter pests like slugs and snails. However, to avoid compacting the soil or stunting growth, it is best to compost the grounds first rather than dumping fresh grounds directly around the base of the plant.
If you've been watering too much you might notice these signs:
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is used to control fungal diseases, deter pests, and slightly reduce soil acidity. However, it must be applied with caution; overuse can cause dangerous salt buildup and damage plant tissue.
Here is a quick checklist of the popular perennials/shrubs that shouldn't be pruned in the fall: Shrubs: Spring blooming Hydrangea macrophylla, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Lilacs, Forsythia, Viburnum, Butterfly Bush, Hardy Hibiscus Perennials: Dianthus, Heuchera, Creeping Phlox, Ajuga, Kniphofia, Lenten Rose (hellebore) ...
Prune during the dormant season, usually between November and March. Remove crossing, dead or diseased branches. Shorten the previous year's growth by a third. Late flowering shrubs.
Beauty is entirely subjective, but a few plants consistently capture the title of the world's most beautiful depending on whether you value classic floral elegance, rare exotic geometry, or unique foliage.
Encouraging the last few to ripen
The simplest is to bring them into a warm room and place them in a paper bag with a ripe banana or apple. Both release ethylene gas, which encourages ripening. Keep the bag loosely closed, check daily, and you'll often find the tomatoes take on full colour within a week.
Never plant fennel, brassicas (like cabbage, broccoli, and kale), potatoes, or corn near tomatoes. These plants can stunt tomato growth, compete aggressively for nutrients, or spread devastating diseases and pests.
Water correctly: Do not overwater. The first week tomato plants are in the ground, they need water every day, but back off watering after the first week, slowly weaning the plants down to 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.
Tomato plants fruit from June until the first frosts, thriving in the warm, light conditions of summer. However, the ripening process slows down as the days become shorter, so fruit that develops from September may not ripen before the first frosts arrive. Tomatoes ripen most quickly in a warm, light environment.
If you want better Autumn tomatoes stop watering them now. I know this sounds odd but it really can help. You don't need to water your plants very much at all now unless they're in small pots which could completely dry out quickly.
The best homemade tomato fertilizer is a nutrient-rich, liquid compost tea. It delivers a gentle, balanced boost of essential macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). To make it, steep a shovelful of aged manure or compost in a 5-gallon bucket of water for 24 hours, strain the liquid, and water your plants.
Baking soda can sweeten tomatoes and deter pests, but must be used sparingly to avoid harming plants. A light sprinkle around the base wards off slugs, ants, and aphids, and a diluted spray mix helps prevent fungus.
Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) provide magnesium and sulfur to tomato plants, which boosts chlorophyll production, aids nutrient absorption, and corrects leaf yellowing. It promotes bushier foliage, stronger cell walls, and can enhance fruit size and flavor.
🍂 Here are ten plants that you needn't cut back in the Fall: 1. Rhododendrons and Azaleas - these flower on old wood, so wait until late Spring, no more than three weeks after they're finished blooming. 2. Lilacs - same as above, pruning late will remove the plant's flower buds and reduce blooms.
Fruit bushes such as currants and gooseberries will benefit from thinning out, while perennials that lack decorative seed heads should be cut back to the ground. Autumn is also the time to prune tender plants such as lavender and rosemary, which won't withstand pruning in winter.