10 Things To Do In Your Early Fall Garden

Update containers with favorite plants that reflect the season. Replace fading annuals with cool-season varieties such as pansies, violas, impatiens and flowering cabbage and kale.

For a longer-lasting design, choose fall-blooming perennials such as chrysanthemums and asters. Tuck in some grasses and maybe a few pumpkins to complete the look.

Perennials such as mums and asters are always a sure choice. Also consider ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, USDA zones 3 to 10; find your zone), blanketflower and goldenrod for color now and in the future.

It may be past peak season, but that doesn’t mean you need to put your vegetable garden to bed just yet. Continue harvesting the last of your vegetables and herbs.

Pick fruit from apple, pear and persimmon trees. Or take a field trip to an orchard where you can fill baskets with your favorites.

There’s still time in early fall to plant vegetables that are quick to mature, such as beets, carrots and radishes, even if winter is fast approaching.

Early to mid fall is the ideal time for planting perennials, shrubs, trees, grasses and ground covers, especially native species. The cooler temperatures and milder light mean they’ll have time to become established before winter. Come next year, they’ll have a head start for maximal growth.

Planting times vary by region. You’ll want to plant at least six weeks before the first frost date. In cold-winter areas, that may be as early as September and certainly by mid-November. In warm-winter regions, you’ll have more time. In areas with a desert climate, fall is always planting time. Your plants will thrive and grow when temperatures are lower.

While some bulbs that need a colder winter may rebloom when planted in the garden, many will produce only leaves in subsequent years. To get a good show, consider treating bulbs like annuals.

Cold-winter climates. Winter chill isn’t an issue for cold-hardy bulbs, but freeze-and-thaw cycles can damage them. If the ground won’t be covered in snow or frozen, provide a layer of mulch.

You may also need to dig up tender bulbs such as canna lilies, dahlias and gladioluses, and overwinter them in a cool, dry location.

Unless you have abundant fall rainfall, you may still need to provide irrigation to both new and established plantings. The good news is that the season’s cooler temperatures will allow you to adjust your watering schedule to fewer days and shorter periods of time. You’ll still need to keep an eye on container plants, especially those on patios, decks and porches.

Get a jump on spring and summer watering needs by setting up systems to capture rainwater, such as rain barrels. Adding stormwater management features to your landscape also will minimize runoff that could overwhelm storm drains and sewer systems.

Consider turning areas that are often soggy during the wet season into rain gardens. These planted shallow depressions absorb and clean water as it percolates underground or into drainage channels.

Tip: Before you purchase or install a rain barrel, be sure to check local laws. Certain states have issued rainwater-harvesting restrictions.

Put fallen leaves on your lawn to good use this fall. With the help of a lawn mower, you can turn them into nutrient-rich mulch for your lawn and garden. You also can add them to your compost pile and let them decompose over the winter.

If your lawn is looking a bit bedraggled, consider dethatching. If the buildup of dead grasses isn’t too deep, raking vigorously may be enough. If not, look into investing in a dethatching rake or renting a power rake.

If things are still looking thin, overseed the bare spots and continue to water until winter rains arrive or snow and frost blanket the ground.

Combine work and pleasure by taking a bucket and a pair of pruners with you as you wander through the garden. Cut back any perennials that are fading, removed diseased limbs and plants, and pull out past-their-prime annuals and vegetables.

Don’t be too zealous in your cleanup. Keeping your garden slightly loose and maybe even a bit overgrown will provide some winter interest, whether you’re out in the space or viewing it from inside. It also will provide shelter and food for local wildlife.

Take an inventory of your furniture, cushions and decor and decide what needs replacing. Then shop the after-season sales for pieces you can enjoy now or set aside for spring.

Make the most of fall weather by continuing to enjoy your time outside. Plan gatherings in the yard, spend chilly evenings around the fire pit or bring out a cozy blanket with a cup of tea or coffee on crisp mornings.