Fall Garden Checklist: Prep Now for a Spectacular Spring

Autumn isn’t shutdown—it’s setup. Strategic fall work reduces spring labor, prevents problems, and sets the stage for a knockout garden next year.

Soil & Bed Prep

• Test soil pH/nutrients; amend per results.
• Add compost/manure to beds; mulch 2–3".
• Sharpen/clean tools; drain/store hoses.
• Clean mower; stabilize fuel or run dry.

Planting & Transplanting

• Plant spring bulbs (tulips, daffodils, crocus) when soil hits 60°F.
• Divide/move perennials on cool, overcast days.
• Plant trees/shrubs—roots establish before freeze.
• Strawberries planted now fruit in fall & next spring.

Cleanup & Protection

• Remove diseased/infested debris (don’t compost).
• One deep weeding now = hundreds fewer spring weeds.
• Burlap-wrap tender shrubs/evergreens.
• Prune dead/diseased wood only; major pruning in late winter.
• Stop fertilizing; reduce watering as temps drop.

Harvest & Preserve

• Pick herbs to freeze/dry.
• Bring green tomatoes inside to ripen (newspaper wrap).
• Harvest, can, freeze, share the bounty.

Indoor Transition

• Move houseplants in when nights hit 50°F. Spray off pests first.
• Inspect thoroughly; quarantine 2 weeks if possible.

Dream & Plan

Walk the garden. Photograph successes/failures. Sketch next year’s beds, structures, lighting. Fall dreaming = spring executing.