In the fall , after harvest , most gardeners are contented to close up shop class and look at the horticulture season over with . Besides growing extra crops , which is possible in the decline ( include many lettuces , cabbages , potatoes , and so forth ) , the dip also offer the conscientious nurseryman an opportunity to make for the next time of year and get a saltation - start on garden maintenance .
Pick
Obviously , your garden will want to be “ picked clear ” so you may organize it for next year . This means pulling all plants that are no longer productive and remove any fruits and vegetables that may have been entrust behind .
Clean
good clean the beds of debris and leftovers has several vantage . First , it clear them for promiscuous covering fire crop planting ( see below ) . Next , it take any vegetable thing that could be potentially carrying disease that can over - wintertime in the constituent matter until bounce . Third , it goes a longsighted style towards aesthetics and give you a fortune to look closely at your soil after the time of year is done .
Fall Composting
plainly , everything organic you attract from your filth and garden bed should be compost . ( The only exclusion is pathologic plant or pot with seeds that could survive and come back to haunt you in the spring.)Compost is gardener ’s goldand the more you have , the better off you are . Many gardeners who are not planting concealment crop ( and even some who are ) like to till compost that is almost finished crumble into the soil so it can complete its nutrition release by spring . Another method is to add compost ( without tilling ) and tally mulch on top .
Leave Seeds for Birds
Any seeds you ’re not going to employ should be thrown to the bird . If you are n’t establish cover crops , seeds on the bare dirt or mulch can encourage birds to spend meter there . Their leavings will heighten your garden , even if only a slight . Any is better than none .
Garden Notes
Be sure to fill out your nurseryman ’s notes for the season and to occupy in what you did during the capitulation . Your notebook computer is your record of what was found where , how it did , and what you did or did n’t do that might meliorate it next time . It also hand you something to do to keep your green ovolo active during the winter month . Here ’s a really great horticulture journal .
Minimize Pests
craw gyration , cover crops ( see below ) , and amendment ( see below ) can all help cover current and next pest infestation . Some pests are only abundant in the downfall , such as late - appear hopper or the caterpillars of outflow butterfly that fatten up up before wintertime . If these are a problem for your expanse , there are many options for drop treatments .
Fall Cover Crops
Likely the most overlooked option for fall horticulture , cover harvest ( or nerveless atmospheric condition crops ) can greatly enhance your garden ’s wellness and vitality . Several options are available , depending on your climate zone , and crops can be tune up to do anything from providing extra organic subject in the spring to adding nitrogen to your soil .
Soil Amendments
As mentioned above in composting , soil amendments in the declension are a great direction to enhance your soil ’s health before spring planting comes around . Check your local garden sum for useable options . Many amendment are specifically meant for declivity accession and are best added when no intellectual nourishment crops are present . Lime is a safe example of this .
Fall Planter Maintenance
If you have windowpane or porch planters , now is the time to clean them out and prepare them for storage . Leaving the soil in them over the winter , exposed , is generally a spoiled estimate and the dirt in container should be interchange ( or hard amend ) annually anyway . Often the best result is to add the soil to your wintertime compost heap .
Other Fall Gardening Resources:
Oklahoma State University – Fall horticulture [ PDF]Texas A&M University – Fall Gardening Guide
Related
CC flickr photo by mjmonty
CC flickr photo by mjmonty
