Fall Garden Checklist
Plants
- Help plants recover from the summer stress by pruning off any dead or dried stems.
- Stop deadheading at the end of the summer if you want your flowers to create seeds. Once the flowers are dead, cut them and allow them to dry. Remove the seeds and put them in a labeled envelope for next spring.
- Plant flowering bulbs. Prepare your soil before planting by working compost into your soil to a depth of 12".
- Divide perennials. To keep plants from drying out, do the work on a cool, cloudy day.
Trees and Shrubs
- Prune any dead or diseased branches.
- Water trees and shrubs deeply one last time before the onset of winter.
Lawn
- Aerate your lawn for healthy grass next spring.
- Fertilize cool-season grasses for maximum growth next spring. If your lawn is over 50% bare, re-seed it.
- Fertilize warm-season grasses one last time in fall. For continued green through winter, consider over-seeding your lawn with ryegrass. The optimal time to do this is two weeks before the first killing frost.
- Rake all leaves off your lawn so it is not deprived of sunlight. Rake deep enough to remove any thatch that may be on top of your grass.
- Trim tall grass away from trees and corners of your home to discourage small rodents from nesting there.
- Get rid of weeds now to reduce the number of seedlings next year.
Other
- Kill summer annual weeds before their seeds mature and fall to the ground.
- Sharpen lawn mower blades so they're ready for spring.
- Bring in your house plants when nighttime low temperatures drop to about 50°F. Check them for pests before you bring them indoors.
- Leaves and other lawn and garden cleanup material are perfect for composting. Turn your compost material once per week with a garden fork to speed decay or chop and shred materials. In cold climates, cover the compost pile to retain heat.
- Drain the water from garden hoses and store them in a place that won't freeze.
- Clean bird feeders and bird baths.
- Clean up leaves, sticks, rocks and other debris in your lawn.
- Identify and repair slopes where erosion has occurred. Retaining walls and plants are two ways to control a slope.
- If you live in a snowy region, get your snow blower back in shape before the first snowfall: change the oil; install a new spark plug; inspect belts for wear and replace if necessary; lube the drive and chassis; fill with fresh gasoline.
