Fall Garden Clean up at Hidden Bluff

Any serious gardener should be in possession of a gardener’s journal. Next to a spade a gardener’s journal is the best tool to have for keeping track of garden jobs for each season.

Anna Tang

Fall Garden Clean up at Hidden Bluff. Sept 2024.

As summer draws to a close so does our garden begin to slow down, sending out gentle signals that the time is coming to prepare them for the long sleep. Around the garden flowers are disappearing and plants are drooping although a couple are still blooming magnificently such as the Ivory Princess calendula. Of the many bushes that boasted large healthy roses only a short while ago now only a few small, poorly formed roses remain while their leaves begin to yellow and brown. The hydrangeas are gorgeous in their decline, their papery petals the color of rose, burgundy and plum jewels. One by one the plants breathe their last and their bodies begin to drop waiting for release, so they can resurrect in the Spring.

As a gardener I can’t help but recognize the yawning of the land and respond. So, I begin the Autumn routine and prepare our plants, making sure they are comfortable and protected from the harsh winter forces. The relationship between the gardener and the land is an age-old one embedded into the human core from the beginning. There is much work involved but the awakening of the garden in the Spring pays back the gardener for all their work as the garden blooms its thanks in a glorious display of color and beauty.

A gardener’s love

The garden needs the loving hand of one who cares enough to maintain the routine throughout the year, and the true gardener at heart understands the importance of this routine. It is the mundane and repetitive tasks that keep a garden healthy and productive all year long. This is especially true in the fall if you want your plants to survive the winter. The true gardener at heart doesn’t hesitate to put on their boots and head out for an industrious day in the garden even in poor conditions. They will rake, cut back, and tie up amongst other things to protect the plants and ensure their survival of winter’s harsh embrace.

And so, the Autumn garden dance begins as we set out with our rakes, shovels, and spades to put the garden to bed. Below I have included a basic gardener’s list for Fall. These are routine things to do in late autumn. Important to note is individual plant care. Although the jobs are general for most garden growth there may be variations in some jobs depending on the plant/shrub/tree.

Fall Garden Clean up at Hidden Bluff

1. Now is the time to move/divide things. Fall’s cooler temperatures allow you to make the changes in your garden. This will help them avoid shock or death which is what happens when you move them in heat. Make your notes of changes during the Spring and Summer seasons and then act on them in the Fall.
2. Plant Spring-blooming bulbs or other things that like being planted in Fall. Fall is a wonderful time to plant many things. There are many plants that need cold stratification. This means they need a period of cold to germinate and grow later or more successfully. Check your bulb, plant and seed instructions to see which should go in the ground. There are also many perennial and biennial cottage garden plants that benefit from a Fall planting as they grow stronger roots and therefore are stronger in the Spring.
3. Cut plants back that call for it. Many perennial plants will grow back bigger and healthier in the Spring if they are cut down in the Fall. However, there are some perennial exceptions to this such as lavender, rosemary, and thyme. Check your plant info for when to cut back- if at all. Also, clear annuals to clean the garden of decaying matter.
4. Rake beds clean. Don’t leave fallen leaves and other debris to promote disease in the garden. Clean the beds.
5. Put mulch around tender plants. Some plants rely on a blanket of mulch to keep warm through the winter. This will depend on the plant and your garden zone. My roses get mint mulch to protect them from harsh gorge winds, but a warm climate likely won’t need to mulch roses for protection.
6. Add compost. This is a good time to feed the garden with compost.
7. Avoid the temptation to prune. A fall pruning is not agreeable with many trees/shrubs as the cooler nights will help kill new growth or send mixed signals to to their growth cycles. Pruning for most trees and bushes is something that should be done late winter/early Spring in the dormant season. Check your plants/shrub/tree instructions.
8. Clean the potting/garden shed. While you are tidying up the garden how about the garden shed? My garden shed is an unholy mess by Summer’s end with nowhere to walk. Time to clean things up!
9. Weed. Yes, weed. For some strange reason weeds grow even in the winter. They are quite the pain, but if I don’t stay on that crabgrass, it will take over.

Have a beautiful day!

fall garden clean up