We may not always associate Fall with a lush garden, especially since we typically characterize it with falling leaves, but the season does have its advantages when it comes to plants. Whether you plan on taking a break from gardening during Fall or want to continue with some season-appropriate plants, it is always important to care for your garden during this time. In this article, we will talk about why you should consider preparing your garden during Fall and how you can get started.
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Why should you prepare the garden for Fall?
Many people associate gardens and gardening with warmer seasons like Spring and Summer, but that does not mean that you are free from gardening duties during Fall and Winter. There are many benefits to doing your garden preparation during the colder months, and it is especially great to lighten your workload when Spring comes along. Here are some of the reasons why you should prepare your garden for the fall season.
To allow your plants to grow well in the Fall weather
The Fall season offers plenty of advantages to your plants, including mild weather, fewer insects and pests, and great soil conditions. There are also a lot of plants that grow nicely during this time of the year, like kale and chrysanthemums. Preparing your garden for the fall season will ensure that the plants you have planted for the season will grow beautifully.
To protect your plants from the weather and animals
The weather in Fall can be tricky at times, and you might end up with harsher weather than you have expected. This can cause some serious damage to your plants unless you have prepared your garden properly beforehand. When you have done proper preparation work for your garden, you can prevent the Fall weather from ruining your plants. Even if something happens, you could at least minimize the damage so that you will not have to fix much when Spring comes along.
Another thing that you can protect your plants from during Fall is wild animals. Since most local vegetation will hibernate till Spring, it can be difficult for certain animals to find food. This can cause these animals to start munching on your plants, leading to some serious damages. If you do not want this to happen to your plants, you should take some measures and prepare your garden for the Fall season. Even if you are not able to prevent all animals from ruining your garden, you could at least minimize the damage or reduce the severity.
To give your plants a jumpstart for Spring
Spring is when your plants will get busy, waking up after the Winter and beginning the growing process. It will take your plants a lot of sunlight, water, and nutrients to grow beautifully so if you want a nice harvest during Spring, you will have to start preparing during Fall. By taking care and maintaining your garden during Fall, you are ensuring a successful hibernation period for your plants. This will allow your plenty to grow nicely when Spring comes along.
To maintain a clean and productive garden during Fall
Even if you do not intend to plant many plants in the fall or winter, you should still try to keep your garden in good condition. If you are not careful, the colder season can cause damage to your garden, which can be disastrous. However, you can avoid these damages by doing some garden prep work, which will also save you time in the coming spring.
How do you prepare the garden for fall?
Now that we have gone through the benefits of preparing your garden for the Fall season, let’s go through what we should do to prepare it. There are a few key things to remember when preparing your garden for the Fall season and it starts with planning. It is always ideal to do some proper planning before starting on any prep work on your garden. This is especially important if you want to plant some Spring plants so that they will grow when the weather gets warmer.
Clean up the garden
If you want to reduce your workload in the fall, it is always better to maintain your garden continuously throughout the summer. However, it is still advisable to clean up the garden before proceeding with the rest of the preparation tasks. Get rid of any weeds and old plants to clean up the area. This is also an excellent time to inspect your remaining plants for disease. Once you’ve identified the unhealthy plants, get rid of them to keep them from affecting your other healthier plants.
Another good idea is to use this time to clean up the rest of the yard. As the leaves begin to fall, rake them up and dispose of any dead leaves on the ground. You can also use the dead leaves as compost for your plants if you want. You should also inspect the condition of your lawn because tall grass can prevent sunlight from reaching the grass’s roots. You can use a grass cutter or a lawnmower if you have a bigger lawn and a lot of grass to work on.
Prepare the soil
The following step is to prepare the soil. Even if you do not intend to plant anything this fall, the soil in your garden should be kept in good condition in order to welcome the coming Spring. By preparing the soil in the fall, you can help to avoid issues such as compacted soil and nutrient-deficient soil. Any problems with the soil may necessitate more effort to resolve later, so it is advisable to take care of it now.
The first step is to loosen and fluff the soil with a garden fork. Depending on how compacted the soil is, you may need to till it to allow water to pass through. Other soil amendments can also be made to improve the soil’s health. This can be done by adding compost to the top of the soil or by mixing it into the soil while loosening it with a garden fork. After you’ve finished loosening and amending the soil, use a rake to smooth out the surface. Raking will also aid in breaking up large clumps and creating furrows for collecting water.
Fertilize and add mulch
If you plan on planting something during Fall, you should spend a little time fertilizing your garden’s soil. By investing in some nutritional plant food for your garden, you can help your plants grow healthily during Winter. Just spread the fertilizer all over your garden’s soil before you start tilling and mix everything with your rake or a garden fork. Depending on the plant and your soil, you may need special fertilizers, but a general one will be enough for a regular garden.
You should also consider whether your garden’s mulch needs to be replaced. Because there’s a good chance the mulch in your garden will get displaced during the summer, it’s a good idea to keep a check on it. Mulch is essential during the winter months since it serves to insulate and warm the soil’s roots. Simply use mulch to fill in any gaps and add extra mulch if necessary.
Author’s Bio
Adleena Azmy is a content writer, currently employed under iPrice Group. She enjoys reading and writing about home improvement, interior design, and gardening. She has also written articles on home improvement and gardening for other online publications.