That first chilly weather forecast can send gardeners racing outside with pruners, buckets, and a vague feeling that everything needs to be finished immediately. Fortunately, most fall garden chores aren’t nearly that urgent, but a handful of garden jobs before first frost really do deserve priority because freezing temperatures can damage tender plants, ruin produce,…
fall gardening
Should You Leave Fallen Leaves on the Lawn? Yes and No
For years, the standard fall routine was simple: rake every leaf, stuff the pile into bags, and make the lawn look as though autumn never happened. Now gardeners are increasingly told to “leave the leaves,” which sounds wonderfully easy until a thick layer of wet maple leaves is plastered across the grass. The truth is…
Garlic Goes in the Ground This Fall, But Timing It Wrong Can Ruin Next Year’s Harvest
Garlic belongs in the fall garden, but the calendar matters more than many gardeners realize. Plant too early and the cloves can push up tender growth before winter, while planting too late can leave them scrambling to build the root system they need. That makes garlic a little different from the vegetables that demand attention…
The Garden Center Wants You to Fertilize Before Winter — Your Plants May Not Need It
Walk into a garden center in autumn and it can feel like every plant has suddenly developed a nutritional emergency. Bags of fertilizer promise stronger roots, better winter performance, and a more impressive garden next spring, making that end-of-season purchase seem like an easy decision. Many established plants do not need a late-season feeding, and…
Those Tiny Holes in Your Fall Vegetables Are Trying to Tell You Something
Those tiny holes appearing in fall vegetables are more than ugly little souvenirs from the garden. They can point toward the particular pest nibbling away at leaves, and the shape, size, and location of the damage can help narrow down the culprit. A few ragged leaves do not automatically mean a garden disaster, but ignoring…
Before Spending $200 on Fall Plants, See What You Can Divide for Free
Fall garden centers can make a gardener feel wonderfully reckless. One minute, the plan calls for a few replacement plants, and the next minute the cart somehow contains enough mums, perennials, and ornamental grasses to require a financial debrief on the drive home. Before spending $200 on new plants, take a tour of the garden…
Fall Garden Clearance Has Started: These 7 Things Are Worth Buying Now and 5 Aren’t
Fall garden clearance has started, and that means garden centers are making room for the next season while shoppers get a chance to snag useful supplies for less. The catch? A red sale sticker does not magically turn a struggling plant, outdated product, or wildly inappropriate purchase into a bargain. The smartest clearance shopping focuses…
Never Burn This Plant When Cleaning Up the Yard — Even If It Looks Dead
Poison ivy can look like nothing more than a crispy pile of garden debris when the season turns, but that dead-looking material deserves a very wide berth. Burning it can send urushiol, the oily substance that causes poison ivy’s infamous rash, into the smoke, creating a much bigger problem than a few itchy spots. The…
The First Frost Is Coming — These 7 Garden Plants Are Worth Saving Before It Hits
The first frost can turn a lush garden into a sad collection of blackened stems almost overnight, but not every plant needs to meet its chilly fate. Some garden favorites deserve a rescue mission before temperatures dip, especially plants that can move indoors, produce more food, or return next year from stored roots. The important…
Stop Pruning These Plants in September — You Could Make Winter Damage Worse
September can feel like the perfect month to grab the pruners. Summer heat starts easing, the garden looks a little shaggy, and suddenly every overgrown shrub seems to be whispering, “Give me a haircut.” Resist the urge with many trees and shrubs, because pruning in late summer or early fall can push out tender new…