As summer winds down, your garden doesn’t have to! Fall is a perfect time to refresh your beds, grow cool-weather crops, and get everything set up for the next season. Here are a few quick and practical ways to prepare your garden for the months ahead.
1. Sow Cold-Tolerant Crops
Plant fast-growing, cool-loving vegetables like lettuce, spinach, radishes, kale, and arugula. These can thrive in lower temperatures and give you a tasty late-season harvest.
2. Clean Up Spent Plants
Remove dying or diseased summer plants to prevent pests and diseases from overwintering in the soil. It also clears space for new growth or cover crops.
3. Add Compost or Mulch
Enrich your soil with compost now so it has time to break down and feed your spring garden. A fresh layer of mulch helps regulate soil temperature and reduces weed growth.
4. Plant Spring Bulbs
Now’s the time to tuck in tulips, daffodils, and other bulbs so they’re ready to bloom as soon as winter ends.
5. Protect Perennials
Trim back perennials (but not too aggressively) and insulate their roots with mulch or straw to help them survive freezing temps.
With a little effort now, your garden will thank you come spring.
Happy prepping!
– Your UFM Family
