Here’s the dirty truth: your compost pile is probably starving. Not for banana peels or coffee grounds, but for carbon. Fall is the sneaky season when compost piles go haywire: slimy textures, funky smells, and sluggish breakdowns suddenly appear out of nowhere. And while it’s tempting to just toss more food scraps into the heap…
composting
Why Compost Smells Different in Autumn
Step outside on a crisp autumn morning and take a deep breath. The air feels cooler, cleaner—and yet, if you wander near your compost pile, there’s something different in the scent swirling through the air. It’s not the sharp, earthy punch of midsummer compost or the heavy, swampy funk of early spring. Instead, it’s richer,…
Why Compost Layers Matter More in Fall
The air is crisp, the leaves are turning fiery shades of red and gold, and suddenly, your yard looks like it’s been buried under a crunchy blanket of autumn glory. It’s the perfect season for bonfires, cozy sweaters—and yes, composting. Fall isn’t just a transitional season; it’s the golden hour for your compost pile. This…
12 Ways to Use Pumpkin Scraps in the Garden
Did you buy pumpkins for Halloween? After they are carved and displayed for the holiday, most pumpkins are tossed in the trash, especially if they start to rot. But gardeners know better. Did you know every part of the pumpkin can be repurposed? You can feed your soil, attract pollinators, or keep pests away in…
6 Gardening Shortcuts That Only Work in Autumn
There’s something magical about autumn—the crisp air, the fiery leaves, the cozy sweaters—and if you’re a gardener, it’s your secret season of opportunity. While everyone else is packing up their tools and calling it quits, you can actually get ahead with a few clever shortcuts that only work during these cooler months. Autumn isn’t just…
Why Raised Beds Hold Heat Longer in Fall
As summer slips away and the crisp edge of autumn starts to creep into the air, gardeners everywhere face the same bittersweet truth: the growing season is winding down. But if you’ve got raised garden beds, you might have noticed something magical—your plants aren’t giving up as quickly as those in the ground. The soil…
7 DIY Greenhouse Hacks for Fall Growing
The air is crisp, the leaves are falling, and your summer garden is officially on its farewell tour. But if you think the growing season ends when the pumpkin spice hits the shelves, think again. Fall gardening—especially inside a greenhouse—is like discovering a hidden cheat code for year-round harvests. With a few clever DIY hacks,…
10 Ways Fallen Leaves Feed Your Soil
When autumn hits and your yard turns into a crunchy carpet of gold, orange, and brown, it’s easy to see fallen leaves as a nuisance. You grab your rake, fill up bags, and haul them off like you’re cleaning up a mess. But what if those leaves aren’t waste at all? What if they’re one…
8 Garden Myths That Fail in Autumn Weather
Autumn rolls in like nature’s grand finale—crisp air, amber leaves, and that unmistakable smell of change. But as you trade iced tea for pumpkin spice lattes, your garden faces its own seasonal showdown. Unfortunately, many well-meaning gardeners get tripped up by stubborn myths that don’t hold up once the temperature dips. These “tried-and-true” tips may…
The Role of Fungi in Breaking Down Fall Leaves
There’s something magical about a crisp autumn afternoon—the air smells woodsy, the trees turn fiery shades of gold, and the ground transforms into a crunchy carpet of fallen leaves. But what happens after the Instagram-worthy season fades and those vibrant leaves start to rot? Most people just rake them up or watch them disappear under…