Fall Garden Amendments: 10 Things You Probably Didn't Know To Do

It's October! While I'm super excited it's finally fall, I'm also a little bummed that gardening for the year is coming to an end. Like a fair amount of you, I really got in to gardening during quarantine. I watched videos and videos, building up my inspiration and creativity, and just started executing this past summer. I feel like I was only just getting started, but am now facing cooler temperatures. 

Although now is not the time to start ramping up your gardening tasks, it is time to start your fall garden amendments. Below are ten things you probably didn’t know to do in the Fall. I sure didn’t! Keep this list handy, and make this part of your Fall garden planting routine each year. 

1. Get Your Garden Soil Tested

Fall is a good time to get soil analyzed so any deficiencies can be addressed before planting in the spring. ​

2. Don't Forget the Birds!

I definitely don’t think about birds when I’m thinking of my landscape. But now is the perfect time to think about planting more shrubs as cover or as food for overwintering birds.

3. Keep Watering

Even as temps drop, it’s important to remember to water if you’re not receiving rain. Plants need water to survive even as temperatures moderate. ​

4. Dividing Plants

If you’re looking to divide any plants, now is the time to do it. The lower temps won’t stress your plants out as much as in the hot summer heat. Our landscape isn’t quite matured enough to divide, but I did acquire quite a bit from my Mom’s garden! ​

5. Keep Mowing

6. Plant a Fall Garden

Now is the time to plant cool-season vegetables, annuals and spring-blooming bulbs. This year, I’m attempting to plant spring bulbs in our front landscape. But next year, I hope to have my vegetable garden up and running for those cold weather crops! ​

7. Grow Cover Crops

There are many Fall garden preparations for winter to consider, but growing cover crops is one I never knew to consider. You can use plants such as crimson clover in unplanted areas for a winter cover crop. I won’t need this task this year, but it’ll come in handy next year when I (hopefully) have my vegetable garden built up.

8. Plant a Tree

This year, we’re totally taking advantage of the cooler weather and warm soil. We planted up our front landscape with winter-hardy perennials, as well as a few shrubs and trees!

9. Fall Is Great for Garlic

10. Composting

This is something new for us. We now have the base to our bins built, and are planning to compost yard waste only. My hope is to have enough compost to fill my vegetable garden beds this Spring!