Autumn Tasks in the Garden

The leaves are beginning to change, the mornings are starting to become cool and crisp, even the sunlight seems to have a golden hue - Autumn is well on the way. I thought I'd leave you some tips garden care tips for the Fall season. I have been working with plants most of life through gardens, farming, and herbalism. My approach in the garden is ecological and mindful. Remeber each garden is unique depending on where you are and what plants you are working with. This is simply advice from my own experience on the west coast of the northern hemisphere.

Soil amending - whether it's mixed compost, earthworm castings, leaf litter (no shortage of that is Fall), coffee grounds or pine needles if you're seeking to create a more acidic soil, mushroom compost, the list goes on. Fall is a great time to compost and prep the soil for Spring. Plants send their energy into their roots during the Fall and Winter and this is a great time to work with the soil.

Mulching - also a form of soil amending but feels like it needs its own section because its so important and slightly different than the above. Soil amending involves mixing the new organic matter into existing soil. Mulching involves adding organic matter to the top layer of the soil usually bark or bark/soil mixture. The leaves in fall provide a natural layer of mulch every year during this season. I encourage people to leave at least some of the leaf litter to break down into the soil. It is so beneficial! If you don't love the look of this you can also add bark mulch if you don't have leaf litter on your property or if you prefer a clean finish. Mulching (in my opinion) is a great thing to do any time of year due to its ability to add beneficial microbes to the soil, retain water moisture, and suppress weeds.

Pruning - cutting back any perennials that have browned up. You can add these clippings to your compost pile or put them in the green bin if you are not composting. This is also a time you can prune some shrubs, but not severely as a severe cutting can leave shrubs and trees susceptible to disease over the winter. Also its important not to stress out your plants with a severe pruning before wintertime. Light pruning is key!

Planting - fall is a wonderful time to plant bulbs, hardy vegetables, and any shrubs, trees you'd like to see take root over fall and winter. Depending on where you are the rainfall over the colder season can help your plants to root in so they will be ready for the following year spring and summer.

Planning - fall is actually a good time to plan any projects that you would like to see happen in springtime. A lot of us get excited about plants, naturally, when spring begins and we see plants beginning to leaf out and buds begin to bloom, but for the best results its better to plan ahead so that you can have the springtime garden you desire before the season begins.

If you're seeking additional support with your garden this season and beyond feel free to contact for a consultation. Happy gardening!