FALL GARDEN CHECKLIST

ANNUAL FLOWERS | ZINNIAS

As the cooler fall weather creeps upon us, it’s time again to head outside to ready your garden for the arrival of another winter. And why not? Autumn is a great time to plant both shrubs and trees as well as to remove any dying annual flowers like marigolds, zinnias or cornflowers.  It is also a great time to prepare your lawn for healthy renewal next spring.

Here is a helpful monthly checklist of tasks for your fall garden cleanup prep for the cold season to come.

Tasks for September

• Pull out the weeds before they go to seed. It will reduce the weeds in next year’s garden.
• Inspect household plants for any pests and begin moving them indoors.
• Bring in clay pots you have outside.
• Plant new shrubs and trees. It gives them time to become established before the first frost, which is about six weeks away.
• Collect herbs and seed for drying.
• Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
• Clean out bird feeders
• Clean up garden tools
• Water shrubs or trees until the ground freezes.
• Add manure or compost to your garden beds.
• Fertilize the lawn.
• Protect any water features in your garden by adding netting to collect any falling leaves.

LEAVES AND RAKE

Tasks for October

• Dig up any tender bulbs like gladiolas, cannas, and dahlias. Make sure to have them wrapped up in moist material and stored in a cool, dark place.
• Rake and compost leaves.
• Remove fallen fruit or vegetable plants and clean up excess garden debris.
• Remove dead annuals from the garden after a frost.
• Get your most commonly used garden tools ready for next spring by sharpening pruners and lawn mower blades.
• Discourage rodents from making winter nests by trimming tall grasses away from trees and corners of your home.
• Discard diseased perennials. Do not compost.
• Uproot and transplant young trees or shrubs to new locations.
• Continue to water your trees and shrubs until the ground freezes.

FROST ON ROSE BUSH

Tasks for November

• Fertilize your lawn.
• Drain your garden hoses and turn off any outside water connections.
• Buy bulbs to force for the winter.
• Clean up any leaves that may have fallen in gutters or downspouts.
• To protect your fruit trees from small animals, wrap screening around the trunks.
• Mulch any rose bushes.
• Continue Watering trees and shrubs until the ground freezes.

AMARYLLIS BULB

Tasks for December

• Start paperwhites and amaryllis for winter blooms.