It’s easy to think that it’s time to hang up the trowel once that first fall chill hits the air, but cooler weather doesn’t have to mean temporarily saying goodbye to your garden. In fact, fall can be one of the most enjoyable times to be in the garden. The air is crisp, the pests are fewer, and your cool-weather plants finally get their moment in the sun.
With a few simple adjustments, your garden can maintain its health even as the days grow shorter. These expert tips can guide your plants through the seasonal changes, keeping your garden looking its best and ready to flourish next spring.
Slow Down the Fertilization
Put down the fertilizer! “At this point in the season, you don’t want to encourage lots of new, leafy growth that’s just going to get zapped by the first frost,” says Burke. Instead, she recommends focusing on building healthy soil that will give your plants what they need without pushing them too hard. Burke prefers the natural route, including organic worm castings, leaf mold, or coffee ground compost.
Time Your Watering Just Right
“This is such a simple trick and it really works,” Burke says about watering before a frost is expected. “Moist soil holds onto heat better than dry soil, so when the temperature drops overnight, that extra moisture acts like a little battery, releasing warmth and protecting the roots.”
She notes that this treatment won’t prevent a hard freeze, but it can be the difference between damaged and undamaged leaves after a light frost. Aim for an evenly moist soil, not soggy.
Prune Only What’s Necessary
You may be tempted to grab those sheers and go to town but that’s not always the most helpful. For most herbaceous perennials, Burke prefers to wait until late winter or early spring to do any serious pruning. “That old growth can help insulate the plant through the winter and even provide food for birds,” she says.
Her exceptions? Anything diseased or clearly dead. “Go ahead and take that out; otherwise, I like to let the plants be,” she notes. “Nature has a rhythm, and sometimes the best thing we can do is step back and let it play out.”
Provide the Right Kind of Root Insulation
For ornamental perennials, especially in beds, Burke prefers a layer of mulch to protect roots from wild temperature swings, but there’s no need to rush it. “Wait until after your first hard frost to lay down mulch,” she says. “If you apply it too early, you can trap in too much warmth or moisture and actually encourage disease.”
For produce, Burke has a different approach. Skip the mulch and layer on fresh, rich compost, as wood mulch can tie up nitrogen and lead to a nutrient tug of war with your veggies.
Have Frost Covers Ready to Go
“Here’s the deal: Not every plant needs a frost cover, though a lot of them benefit from it,” says Burke. Once those overnight lows start dipping into the 30s, be sure to cover anything tender; think lettuces, softer herbs, and even peppers.
For more moderate and harder freezes (below 28°F), Burke recommends layering a frost cloth with a light sheet or tarp, but warns about improper placement. “The biggest mistake I see is people just throwing a cover directly over their plants,” she says. “Please don’t do that! You want air between the plant and the cover. Use hoops, cages, or even sticks to create space above your plants.”
Options like frost cloth or floating row cover are breathable and let light in while still insulating. Old sheets and towels work in a pinch and for shorter periods, but can be too heavy and trap in moisture, so use them wisely and take them off during the day.
