Fall Garden Clean Up – Do It Right

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Fall Garden Clean Up: Helpful Tips for a Healthy, Beautiful Spring

As the air turns crisp and the leaves change color, fall clean up becomes a task every gardener needs to consider for a healthier garden that survives winter.

Getting your garden ready for winter protects your plants from tough weather and helps your garden thrive in spring.

This easy guide will walk you through some autumn garden care, helping you optimize your garden’s health and maximize the next season’s growth.

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This is a much-debated subject from full-on wipe it clean to leave it alone, but if you approach it with knowledge of the natural world you can make a good decision in your garden.

Today we will discuss what is usually recommended and why you may want to modify them in your garden.

Why Fall Garden Cleanup Is Important

A thorough fall garden cleanup helps:

• Prevent diseases: Cleaning up plant debris reduces the risks of overwintering pests and diseases. Don’t contend with diseases or pests? Then don’t be afraid to modify your clean-up approach.
• Improve soil health: Mulching and composting enrich the soil and provide nutrients for spring growth. This is very important, soil health is the key to a lush and healthy garden. Did you know leaving plant debris in place is one way to mulch?
• Boost plant resilience: Pruning and trimming can prepare your plants to survive winter conditions that would otherwise encourage diseases.
• Enhance aesthetics: A well-maintained garden creates a clean, attractive landscape, even in winter. I get heavy snow that stays on the ground so having everything raked up is less important.

How to Prepare Your Garden For Winter

1. Remove Spent Annuals and Vegetables

Start by clearing out dead or dying annuals, vegetables, and flowers. Pull out roots, stems, and leaves, and dispose of them. This not only tidies up the garden but also prevents diseases and pests that can hide in decaying plant material over winter.

Okay, this is where I will recommend something different. Recent research has suggested that not pulling up the roots is key to the best soil health. Cut the plants off at ground level instead.

The roots have developed a symbiosis with the microbes in the soil and pulling them disturbs the balance that is beneficial for your soil health.

As always, you can do what is best for you, this is just the reasoning behind what I prefer doing instead of what is traditionally recommended.

Tip: Compost healthy plant material to create nutrient-rich compost for next season. Avoid composting diseased plants.

2. Cut Back Perennials

Many perennials benefit from being trimmed down in the fall, allowing for healthy regrowth in spring.

However, be selective: some perennials, such as ornamental grasses, rudbeckias, and coneflowers, provide winter interest and food for birds, so you can leave them standing until early spring.

Plants you can cut back: (these are a few, research any particular plant you may wonder about

• Hostas (the leaves can harbor slug eggs)
• Daylilies
• Peonies
• Shasta daisies
• Tall Phlox (they can develop powdery mildew during wetter months)
• Roses (I explain why I prune in Fall in my video while many others advise late winter or early Spring)
• Buddleia (same as above)
• Bee Balm
• Veronica
• Catmint

Plants to leave alone:

• Echinacea
• Sedums
• Rudbeckia
• Salvias
• Big leaf hydrangeas
• Other marginally hardy perennials that benefit from the protection of the faded foliage (red hot poker, anise hyssop, and more)

A perennial is marginally hardy if the lowest USDA zone it will survive in is the same as yours. (ie: The plant is hardy in zones 5-9, you live in zone 5, and depending on the severity of your winter the plant may not survive without protection)

If I need to remove the echinacea and rudbeckia I will pile them up in an area that the birds can access and are free to eat the seeds.

Be warned that most varieties of echinacea and rudbeckia will freely reseed themselves. Many gardeners like that, some do not.

3. Mulch Garden Beds

Mulching helps insulate the soil, keeps moisture in, and protects plant roots from extreme cold. Add a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch like shredded leaves, straw, or bark around the base of perennials and shrubs. Mulching also reduces weed growth in the spring.

Mulch benefits:

• Regulates soil temperature
• Retains moisture
• Suppresses weeds
• Adds organic matter as it breaks down

Since I have not contended with any severe plant diseases or pests I will sometimes chop up my plant debris and let it drop in place. I then add a touch of mulch over the top. The plant debris composts in place and feeds the soil.

When winter temperatures arrive I will use the chicken debris from their pen to mulch with. When the temperatures are cold enough this will NOT burn plants.

4. Prune Trees and Shrubs

Fall is a good time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs because they are dormant. Remove dead, damaged, or diseased branches to promote better airflow and reduce the risk of disease.

Be careful not to prune spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs and forsythias, as they set their flower buds in the fall.

Here in California, this type of pruning is often left until January as the trees do not go into full dormancy until then. Always check what is right for your gardening region as it varies widely across the country

5. Clean Up Fallen Leaves

Raking up fallen leaves is a classic fall garden task, but don’t throw all of them away! Leaves provide valuable organic matter. Use them in compost piles, or shred and spread them as mulch in flower beds. I have also used them as a garden path cover instead of bark to keep weeds at bay.

Why shredded leaves are better:

• They decompose faster.
• They prevent compacting, which can smother plants.
• They add nutrients back into the soil.

If you don’t want to mulch all your leaves, consider using them for a leaf mold compost pile.

Many municipalities offer curb service to pick up your unwanted leaves but it is so much easier to find a corner somewhere in your garden to let them decompose and turn into the most luscious soil amendment.

Tip: I don’t bother with shredding, in fact, I usually spread them in areas where I do not want any weeds, they may compact but since I want them to smother anything underneath that does not phase me. In Spring, I rake them back (anything that is left, which isn’t much) and plant.

Many recommend raking up all garden debris but you may wish to rethink that. Many beneficial insects, worms, or pupae overwinter beneath the plant debris and wait to emerge in Spring. Raking away their protection means sure death.

6. Prepare Your Lawn for Winter

Fall is the ideal time to give your lawn some TLC. Rake up leaves, and remove any debris to prevent mold growth. This is also a great time to aerate and overseed your lawn, especially bare patches. Apply a winterizing fertilizer to strengthen grass roots for a lush, green lawn in spring.

Lawn care tips:

• Aerate compacted soil.
• Overseed thin or bare patches.
• Apply a slow-release fertilizer.

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7. Protect Sensitive Plants

If you have tender perennials or sensitive plants, provide extra protection. Use cloches, burlap wraps, or even old blankets to insulate plants from frost. For bulbs like dahlias or gladiolus, dig them up and store them indoors for the winter.

Plants that may need protection:

• Roses
• Hydrangeas
• Fig trees
• Herbs like rosemary

8. Clean and Store Tools

Before winter hits, clean and properly store your garden tools to prolong their lifespan. Remove dirt, sharpen blades, and oil metal parts to prevent rust. Store tools in a dry location, such as a garage or shed, to protect them from moisture and freezing temperatures.

Tool maintenance tasks:

• Remove soil from shovels and spades.
• Sharpen pruners and shears. Spray with wd 40 to prevent rust.
• Oil wooden handles to prevent drying and splitting.

9. Drain and Store Hoses and Irrigation Systems

Water left in hoses, sprinklers, and irrigation systems can freeze, causing them to crack. Drain all hoses and store them indoors. If you have an in-ground irrigation system, shut it off and drain the pipes to avoid damage.

Use an air compressor, to blow out the system and remove any residual water.

Winterizing irrigation systems:

• Turn off the main water supply.
• Blow out excess water with compressed air.
• Store hoses in a shed or garage.

10. Plan for Spring

As you tidy up your garden, think ahead to spring. Take note of what worked and what didn’t this growing season. This is the perfect time to amend garden beds with compost or manure. I often use bulk turkey manure compost as my mulch. I get it from a local landscape supply or a feed store.

You can also plant bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and crocuses for a bright spring display.

Planning tips:

• Map out new garden beds or expansion.
• Order seeds and plants for early planting.
• Test and amend the soil if necessary. (I don’t test, I just amend with compost)

Never leave soil bare. If you are not going to mulch then try a cover crop that will build the soil while protecting it. Naked soil will try to cover itself thus you get weeds.

Container Plants Fall Cleanup

Container plants need special care during fall cleanup to ensure they thrive through winter, especially if you plan to overwinter them indoors or in sheltered areas. Follow these tips to keep your potted plants healthy during the cold season:

Bring Sensitive Plants Indoors

If you have tropical plants, succulents, or any frost-sensitive plants in containers, move them indoors before the first frost.

Place them in a sunny spot, such as a windowsill or a room with bright, indirect light. Gradually acclimate them to indoor conditions by moving them inside at night for a week or two before permanently transitioning them.

Plants to bring indoors:

• Fuchsias
• Geraniums
• Begonias
• Tropical plants (like bananas, palms, and citrus)

Prune and Repot if Necessary

Before bringing plants indoors, inspect them for pests and diseases. Prune back leggy growth, remove dead or damaged leaves, and trim away any spent flowers.

If a plant is root-bound, consider repotting it into a slightly larger container with fresh potting mix. Or you can root prune if you feel confident in doing so.

Pests or their larvae can be hiding in the soil. It is best to repot the plants in fresh soil so you won’t bring the pests indoors.

Pruning tips:

• Remove 20-30% of the plant to encourage healthy regrowth.
• Check the soil and leaves for pests like aphids or spider mites before bringing plants inside.

Watering and Care Adjustments

Once your container plants are indoors, they’ll need less water due to lower light levels and slower growth. Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry, and avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.

I find it more effective to use a moisture meter, since using one I have been much more successful with keeping indoor plants healthier and happier.

Maintain humidity levels by misting plants or using a humidity tray, especially if your indoor air is dry. (some claim the humidity tray and misting doesn’t work but who knows. I have since started using a humidifier)

Watering tips:

• Cut back on watering as growth slows.
• Group plants together to maintain humidity.
• Since I use grow lights which can maintain some growth I must be extra vigilant on care.

Store Empty Pots and Containers

For containers that housed annuals or spent plants, clean them thoroughly to prevent disease from spreading to next year’s plants. Scrub pots with a mixture of water and mild soap, and let them dry before storing them in a shed, garage, or covered area.

Cleaning tips:

• Use a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) to disinfect pots. I use plain soap and water and consider this enough.
• Store containers upside down to prevent water from collecting and freezing.

Protect Hardy Perennials in Pots

If you have hardy perennials growing in containers, they may be able to stay outside with a little extra protection. Move pots closer to your home’s foundation or into a sheltered area like a covered porch. You can also wrap containers in burlap or bubble wrap to insulate the roots from freezing temperatures.

Another way to protect them is to bury them in the soil to keep the roots insulated.

Plants that may overwinter outdoors:

• Hardy herbs (like thyme and oregano)
• Sedums
• Heucheras

By paying attention to your container plants during fall cleanup, you’ll help them survive winter, whether indoors or outdoors, and ensure they’re ready for another season of growth in spring.

Enjoy a Healthy, Tidy Garden Year-Round

Fall garden maintenance is important for promoting a healthy and beautiful garden year-round. By tackling these tasks before winter sets in, you’ll protect your plants, enrich your soil, and set the stage for a flourishing garden next spring. With the right preparation, you will have a head start on your garden once the weather warms up!

Remember, do what works for you in your garden conditions. You can leave debris in place, rake it up, and have a clean slate, prune or not prune, etc. There is no one size fits all in the garden.

What are your best fall gardening tips?

Happy Gardening in Fall!

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