Fall Garden Cleanup Checklist: Essential Chores for a Healthy Spring Garden

A killing frost in mid-October ended the season. Tender late-planted crops (beans, cukes, radishes, lettuce, bok choy, squash) matured for a second harvest. Now, cleanup prevents next year's problems.

Fall Cleanup Tasks

• Remove all spent plants. Dispose of diseased or bug-infested material off-site—don't compost.
• Weed thoroughly—one mature weed produces thousands of seeds.
• Dig out perennial weeds (dock, etc.); use holes for spring bulbs.

Create New Beds the Easy Way

Scalp grass low, cover with thick newspaper layer, then compost, then chopped leaves. By spring: rich, worm-filled planting bed.

Protect Fruit Trees

• Mow around trees one last time to deter mice.
• Install fine-mesh hardware cloth guards at base to prevent vole/mouse bark damage.

Plan & Test

• Record crop locations for rotation—avoid same family in same spot yearly (prevents pests, nutrient depletion).
• Test soil now (mix samples from multiple beds). Apply recommended amendments this fall for spring availability.

A few fall chores set the stage for a thriving garden next year.

By Robin Sweetser