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As the garden harvest wraps up, it is time to start thinking about next year’s garden. This is the perfect time to assess the past season, save some seed, rebuild the soil and much more. Take a few minutes each week between now and when the flies to prepare for next year’s garden with these 5 fall gardening chores.

Make the most of next year's garden by doing these 5 fall gardening chores.

Save Those Leaves

All those falling leaves are an amazing free boon to a gardener. Compost them for spring planting or use them for mulch around your perennial plants. Use a thick layer of leaves as a protective cover over that fall planted garlic or root vegetables left in the ground during the winter. I keep a large covered garbage can of leaves near the door and toss a handful into my worm bin now and them to add brown matter during winter months.

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Practice Fall Planting

Things like tulips and daffodils should be planted in the fall as a cold period is necessary for their blooming. Garlic, sunchokes, many perennial herbs, even some fruit trees can and should be planted in the fall. This is a great time to take advantage of sales at local greenhouses and build up those perennial beds.

Hoard Seeds

Save those that didn’t cross for next year’s garden. Seeds that might have crossed, like radishes, can be saved for winter sprouts. Ask friends for their seeds too, this is a great way to find flowers most especially.

Build the Soil

The soil has worked hard during the growing season, be sure to feed it now and help it rebuild. Add compost, shredded leaves, manure, etc. Let all that sit and do its thing under the cover of snow (assuming your climate has snow). Doing this now will pay off with more abundant harvests next spring.

Reassess the Past

Now is the time to make sure to note anything special about the past season. Even the most diligent note takers can benefit by taking a few minutes now to reflect on the past hardening season. Use this time to make general notes about the season and changes desired for next. It’s so much handier to do this now and refer back to the garden journal later than try to recall it all from memory in the spring.

As you bring in the rest of this year’s harvest be sure to take a few minutes now to prepare for next year’s harvest. These fall gardening chores are quick and relatively easy while providing huge rewards.

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26 Comments

  1. After the disaster we’ve has in the garden this year, some fall TLC and some very intentional planning for next years garden are definitely in order :-) And I’m *really good at hoarding seeds, too, so that helps ;-)

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  2. These are spring chores for me–we’re just getting our fall garden going down here! :)

    My favorite way to use sprouts is in stir fry, while my husband loves them on salad.

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  3. Thank you for the reminders of what we need to do for the garden in the fall. Thank you for offering the giving away. I would like to do the sprouting – in the winter.

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  6. Im learning as I go….your blog is immensely helpful to me…..Im a beginner gardener….so I need all the help i can get…..The sprouts are very interesting to me as this is something I have never planted and Im not so familiar with…..Ive bought sprouts in the store and used on sandwichs and they were wonderful…..would love to try to grow my own. Thanks for all the help with your blog! Must get working on some of those Fall chores!

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  11. I love sprouting seeds! Do it all the time and use them in all kinds of ways! Salads, sandwiches, smoothies, garnishes, you name it! It makes me feel good to be able to grow food in my apartment!

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  18. I love alfalfa and/or clover sprouts straight from the jar. I put them next to my eggs and bacon in the mornings or in my salads. I also put them on my burgers, chicken sandwiches, etc.

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