Fall Garden Tasks: What to Do as the Season Winds Down

Fall isn't the end of gardening—it's a pivot point. In many regions, you still have weeks of growing time. Plant chrysanthemums, asters, sedum 'Autumn Joy', ornamental grasses, pansies, and ornamental kale for late‑season color. Harvest gourds and pumpkins. Then shift to cleanup.

Putting Beds to Bed

• Irises: Cut leaves in a fan shape after frost; leave green foliage until it yellows to feed rhizomes.
• Grasses: Leave for winter interest or cut to a few inches in late fall/early spring.
• Peonies: Cut stems to 2 inches after leaves wilt.
• General: Remove all dead debris to reduce disease carryover.

Consider adding Formosa lily (Lilium formosanum) for late‑summer blooms. Fall cleanup is relaxing and sets the stage for a healthier spring garden.