Fall is an important time for gardeners. While spring often gets most of the attention, cooler autumn weather provides an opportunity to harvest vegetables, clean up garden beds, care for the lawn and prepare plants for colder months.

A little work now can also make next spring easier. Before beginning any fall gardening project, read the instructions on fertilizers, lawn products, tools and other garden supplies first. Product directions can tell you how much to use, when to apply it and what safety precautions you should follow.

Start With a Fall Garden Cleanup

Begin by walking through your garden and looking for plants that have finished producing. Remove dead annuals, spent vegetable plants and fallen plant material that could provide hiding places for certain pests or contribute to plant disease.

Healthy plant material may be suitable for your compost pile. Plants showing signs of disease or serious pest problems should generally be kept out of home compost unless you know your composting method reaches conditions appropriate for managing them. Check our local hardware store specials for great prices on tools that can help!!

Fall cleanup does not mean every garden bed needs to be stripped bare. Some healthy plant stems and seed heads can provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects during the colder months. The goal is to tidy problem areas while maintaining a healthy garden habitat.

Wear Gardening Gloves and Dress for the Job

A dependable pair of gardening gloves is useful throughout fall cleanup. Gloves help protect your hands from rough stems, thorns, splinters and dirt. Choose gloves that fit comfortably and still allow you to grip hand tools securely.

Closed-toe shoes or sturdy boots are also a good choice when digging, raking or moving garden materials. Long sleeves can provide additional protection when pruning shrubs or handling prickly plants.

Inspect gloves before using them and replace pairs that are badly torn or worn. If you are using a fertilizer, pesticide or other lawn and garden product, check its label to learn what protective clothing or equipment is required.

Gather and Inspect Your Garden Tools

Having the right garden tools nearby can make fall chores more manageable. Depending on your garden, you may need a rake, hand trowel, shovel, garden fork, pruners or wheelbarrow.

Before getting started, inspect each tool.

• Check wooden handles for cracks or splinters and make sure tool heads are secure.
• Pruning tools should operate smoothly and have suitable cutting edges.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for using and maintaining your tools.

When the work is finished, remove soil and plant debris before putting tools away. Proper cleaning and dry storage can help keep garden tools ready for another season.

Harvest Fall Vegetables at the Right Time

Fall can still bring plenty of rewards from the vegetable garden. Depending on what you planted and your local growing conditions, you may be harvesting crops such as carrots, beets, leafy greens, broccoli, cabbage, squash or pumpkins.

Check vegetables regularly rather than waiting for everything to mature at once. Harvest recommendations vary by crop, so learn the signs that your particular vegetables are ready.

Keep an eye on your local weather forecast as temperatures begin dropping. Some cool-season crops tolerate chilly conditions better than warm-season vegetables, but frost tolerance varies considerably from one plant to another.

Use a clean knife or pruning tool when a crop needs to be cut rather than pulled. Handle harvested produce gently to avoid bruising, and follow appropriate food-safety and storage recommendations for each crop.

Give Your Lawn Some Fall Attention

Fall is also a good time to evaluate your lawn. Depending on your grass type, climate and soil needs, autumn lawn care may include mowing, removing heavy leaf buildup or applying an appropriate fertilizer.

One familiar lawn fertilizer option is Milorganite®. Before applying Milorganite—or any lawn or garden fertilizer—read the package instructions first. Follow the label for application rates, timing and appropriate uses. Applying extra fertilizer does not automatically produce better results.

It is also helpful to understand what your lawn actually needs. Soil testing can provide useful information about soil conditions and nutrients and can help you make more informed lawn and garden decisions.

For Milorganite-specific application information, consult the manufacturer’s current directions rather than relying on a general rule.

Prepare Garden Beds for Next Spring

After harvesting and cleanup, spend a little time preparing beds for the future. Remove troublesome weeds before they have another opportunity to spread. You can also evaluate the soil and consider whether organic matter is appropriate for your garden.

Adding suitable compost can help improve soil structure over time.

However, more is not always better, especially when it comes to nutrients. A soil test can help identify what your garden needs before you add fertilizers or amendments.

Fall is also a useful time to make notes about the past growing season. Write down which vegetables performed well, where weeds were difficult to control and which areas received too much or too little sunlight. Those simple observations can be valuable when planning next year’s garden.

Protect Plants as Temperatures Drop

Plants have different requirements for winter protection. Some perennials naturally die back and return in spring, while other plants may benefit from mulch after conditions become appropriately cold.

Avoid assuming every plant needs the same treatment. Identify the plants in your landscape and check reliable recommendations for your growing region.

If you are adding mulch, follow recommendations for the particular plants and materials you are using. Avoid piling mulch directly against tree trunks or plant crowns, where excess moisture can cause problems.

Put Safety and Product Directions First

Whether you are fertilizing the lawn, pruning a shrub or using a new garden tool, read the instructions before you begin. Never assume that two products with similar purposes have the same directions.

Keep lawn and garden products in their original labeled containers and store them according to manufacturer directions, away from children and pets. Follow all label precautions and use only products intended for your specific task.

For powered garden equipment, consult the owner’s manual before operation and follow the manufacturer’s requirements for protective equipment, maintenance and safe use.

Find Fall Gardening Supplies at Your Local Hardware Store

Fall projects are easier when your basic supplies are organized and ready to go. Gardening gloves, hand tools, rakes, pruning tools, cleanup supplies and lawn-care products can help you tackle seasonal chores one project at a time.

Your local hardware store can also be a helpful place to discuss the types of tools and supplies commonly used for fall gardening in your area. When choosing fertilizers such as Milorganite or other lawn and garden products, always check the current product label to make sure it is appropriate for your intended use.

For further reading:
Milorganite: https://www.milorganite.com/
University of Minnesota Extension — Preparing the Garden for Winter: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/preparing-garden-winter