Autumn-izing Your Garden

Autumn is the time of year when gardeners prepare their gardens for the colder months ahead. Autumn-izing your garden is a great way to have a clean and primed area for planting in spring, and it is also considerate to think about the pollinators in your area during the process. Autumn is when gardens get cleaned up, soil receives some extra attention, and winter preparation can make a world of difference when it is time to get to planting.

Gardening in Autumn

Cooler weather means plants, trees, and grass go “quiet”. Landscapers aren’t needed every week to trim the lawns because they are not growing as quickly. Weeding and other gardening is not as urgent because colder weather begins to shed leaves from trees, and the beautiful colors of red and orange begin to appear. Gardeners often use autumn as a time for cleaning and preparation, and also a time for learning and assessing their garden for next spring. As growth slows and maintenance is less demanding, the extra time can be spent focusing on what plants, flowers, and vegetables did well, which will be kept, and anything removed that does not line up with the gardener's vision for their space.

Look Ahead to Colder Months

Winterizing is a more popular term for this season for gardeners, but because it is autumn, this name sis catching on throughout the gardening community. Depending on where people live, their gardens will experience different levels of slowed growth. Areas south, like Florida, may not experience such extreme changes in their gardens as those who live in areas that freeze. Any gardener in freezing climates during the winter understands the necessity to prepare now. Taking care of your garden is a direct return on investment of time. Any prepping one does will set the garden up for more success. Leaving a garden unattended to fend for itself may be a welcome sight for pollinators, but it can make spring daunting to get the garden back to its prime.

Don’t Toss the Seeds

Seasoned gardeners know they can save seeds in autumn to be replanted in the spring. Although saving seeds is work, gardeners will agree it is worth the time and effort on the front end. Flowers are a source of pollen in spring, and keeping seeds for plants and flowers that you want in your garden again in spring is a great way to provide consistency and keep things local for bees and other pollinators.

Collecting seeds should be done on warm days, and those who want to make this part of their autumnizing process can look to the experts for details about how to collect seeds from different plants and flowers, and which ones are best to tend to. The general rule is to let the seeds dry out before putting them in an envelope or jar for safekeeping. It is also known that germination reduces year after year, so only save seeds you will plant for the upcoming spring. Seeds are also a favorite treat for critters, especially as they begin to store up for winter, so it is not necessary to strip every seed! Critters can keep unwanted pests away and help maintain the balance in the ecosystem.

Protecting Potted Plants

Americans love their potted plants. We place them inside, outside, and even take them to our workplaces. A nice pot can make an unimpressive plant a beautiful sight! Baskets and pots may end up in the garage during freezing months, and inexperienced gardeners may toss plants in the winter because they think they won’t come back. On the contrary, many potted plants will make a healthy comeback in the spring, so don’t be too hasty in throwing them out. Dormant plants may not look as nice during the winter, but perennials can be saved and will come back with some tender care.