Fall Garden Tricks and Treats

With fall upon us, you may think it’s time to pack in the garden for the year. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! There is still plenty of time for you to enjoy your garden before winter. Fall is also the perfect time to do some prep work so that you can enjoy a bountiful garden inthe spring. Check out these fall garden tricks and treats:

Trick: Prepare soil and clean-up.

After a season of growing, your soil will need a little boost. Add compost or organic matter to increase its nutrients and improve water retention over the winter. Remove dead plants and weeds from garden beds in the fall as well. This will set your garden up for success next spring.

Treat: Plant mums and pansies.

Mums and pansies are tried-and-true autumn showstoppers. Planted as annuals, they dot the ground with bursts of color or grace entryways with their bold welcome. These plants are a great way to keep your green thumb active well into the fall season.

Trick: Protect from frost.

Protect plants from the cold by adding an extra two to three inches of mulch. Covers or mini-greenhouses can also be used to shield plants from the winter elements. Some plants can also be brought inside for the winter.

Treat: Enjoy sunflowers.

With proper care and maintenance, sunflowers can last well into the fall. The bright yellow and burnt orange colors of a sunflower’s leaves and its dark black center pair so well with the autumn season, it’s worth keeping them around.

Trick: Plant spring bulbs.

Some flowers, like tulips and daffodils, require a long cold spell to ensure they flower in the spring. Fall is the time to plant these bulbs so you can enjoy pops of color in early spring.

Treat: Grow root vegetables.
Fall is the growing season for root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and onions. The cooler weather brings out the sweet, rich taste, making them the perfect accompaniment to stews and soups. You can also simply enjoy them on their own.