Real Estate Trends: Essential Fall Gardening To-Do List

Fall and winter may seem like your chance to cozy up with a latte in front of the fireplace and ignore the garden. However, there are lots of things you can do now that will be valuable come spring. Admittedly these chores are a little ho-hum, yet when you’re done, you have my wholehearted support in getting back to that latte: you deserve it!

Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs
When nighttime temperatures are in the 40- to 50-degree range, it’s time to plant pretty bulbs to guarantee a gorgeous spring show: alliums, tulips, daffodils and crocus are all great to get in the ground right now.  Just remember to mulch after planting.

Clean Your Tools
My Dad always said “treat your tools well and they will last far longer”. Before you tuck them away for the winter, wash off crusted dirt and chemicals, to prevent rusting. Sharpen and oil your tools, adding linseed oil to wooden handles to prevent cracking. Other tool maintenance tasks: drain gasoline from power tools and make sure air filters are clean before storing; drain gasoline from your mower, change the oil, grease the engine and change the spark plug if it needs it; drain your rain barrel; and change the oil in your rototiller and sharpen the tines.

Get Foundation Plants in the Ground
Shrubs, perennials and trees do well when planted in the fall, just remember you still need to regularly water them to give them a good start. Shrubs also provide great habitats and food for birds over the cold winter. Find out what to plant to keep birds happy here.

Now is also a good time to relocate existing shrubs if they aren’t working for you in their present digs.

Clean Up the Garden & Cut Back Perennials
Fallen fruits and veggies harbor pests and diseases, so clear out all of your rotten tomato remnants and other edible debris. Just remember not to compost diseased plants if you have some in your veggie garden: they can ruin your next harvest. Other key clean-up tasks include: mulching beds to protect plants; continuing to weed, even when temperatures drop; and pruning deciduous trees is also a great fall garden task because with leaves gone you can easily see the shape of the tree and know best how to prune.

Save Seeds
Be a clever, frugal gardener and save seeds to grow more plants next year. Gather seeds from spent plants and place them in paper envelopes or paper bags (or go homestead-elegant, and store them in apothecary jars. Just make sure the seeds are completely dry before storing) and make sure you label them so you know what you have come spring.

Krista Cunningham
Advertising & Marketing Guru,
Hobby Farmer, Country Girl