Think of the fall as a time for "spring cleaning" your garden. In your house, spring cleaning helps you shake off the cobwebs of winter and cleanse your house of the clutter and chaos. Fall garden cleanup has a similar purpose. It's a time to remove old plants, rake up leaves, do one last weeding, and prepare your flower beds for their winter nap. It's also a good time to look back over the gardening season to see what you'll do differently next year and things you'll improve on for the next growing season, and to plan some fall landscaping projects. With this in mind, this will be the first in several tasks for you to do this fall. You'll thank yourself next spring! And, if you're planning on selling next year - adding curb appeal this fall is a great way to set the stage for your marketing next year.
Remove old dead plants and other garden debris.
Annual vegetables, herbs and flowers are winding down in fall and preparing for their winter hibernation. Once you've taken in the last crop of herbs and vegetables or plants stop producing, pull the old plants or trim back the perennials, shake off excess soil from the roots, and add them to your compost pile. Throw away anything that looks diseased or infested with insects. Replant ornamental beds with fall annuals, such as pansies or mums. Use trash bags to gather and haul materials to your compost pile. Or, use paper lawn bags and add the filled bag to the pile - the paper bag will decompose, too! You may also want to fertilize and airate your lawn in readiness for the winter.
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