TEN FALL GARDENING TIPS FOR YOUR GARDEN

In Arizona, we look forward to fall so much! We are often tired of the really hot summers and wait patiently for summer to turn into fall. I am so glad cooler temperatures are here and my garden has a chance to grow again. Unlike many other parts of the country, our second growing season for the year begins in the fall due to the mild winters. Since the garden has started to come back to life, I thought I’d share ten fall gardening tips with you.

Just a few weeks ago, the 100 + degree weather ravaged my garden and left it looking sad and awful. As soon as the night time temps began to cool, it perked up. Plants are so resilient and can grow in so many different conditions. We could learn a lesson from plants for sure.

Tip #1 – Enjoy the last of your summer flowers and save seeds for next year

Many flowers put on their last show of the year, in preparation to deal with the colder months. Remember to save seeds for next year’s garden. The sunflowers that grow in our garden, re-germinate on their own but I like to keep some seeds handy to sow in the spring.

Make sure to label all of your seeds with the name, date when the seeds were harvested, the ideal planting time, and any other notes that you need to remember.

Tip #2 – Harvest your crops before it gets too cold

Harvest your best crops before the weather turns too cold. Earlier this year, I planted a tiny Black Beauty Eggplant and I was hoping to see some fruit in the summer but due to the extremely high temperatures we had this year, none of the flowers turned into fruit. As soon as the night temperatures dropped a bit, the fruit appeared! I am looking forward to cooking it soon. My favorite way to prepare this dish is in the typical Sri Lankan way. Fried brinjals (eggplant) salad!

Pomegranates are easy to grow in AZ. Not only are they really tasty (if you can get past the many seeds) there are several health benefits of consuming pomegranates. As the weather cools the leaves start to fall on this plant. I’ve found these fruits really enhance my fall decor as well! See the softer fall flower arrangement and the fall tablescape for ideas on incorporating pomegranates into your decor. If you have too much fruit, consider donating it or using it in decor as I did. Pickling, drying, or preserving your fruits and vegetables is a great way to go too.

Tip #3 – Prepare your soil

Every year, I add extra compost and steer manure to my soil in both the spring and the fall. This helps to keep plants growing well throughout the year. Even in colder winter climates, it’s best to perform a soil test in the fall and amend your soil as needed. Soil preparation will help your spring garden look amazing.

Good soil is a must for a great garden.

Tip #4 – Prepare or plant spring bulbs

Fall is a great time to plant or prepare bulbs for spring. Please check the planting instructions and chilling requirements on any bulbs that you order so that you aren’t disappointed in the spring. In Arizona, we have to make sure our bulbs are pre-chilled and it can go in the ground in late fall. If you ordered bulbs and they are not pre-chilled, you’ll need to put it in the fridge for several weeks before planting. I planted 100 bulbs several years ago, only to find that none of them bloomed because I didn’t know I had to pre-chill it! In other parts of the country, with colder winters, make sure to get your bulbs in before the snow comes in. Tulips and Hyacinths are my favorite bulbs to plant.

Tip #5 – Sow seeds

I prepare my beds for winter planting when the weather starts to cool down. I’ve sown seeds for carrot, spinach, beetroots, and tomato. Depending on your region, you may be able to sow seeds for one last crop of veggies before it gets too cold. If you are in a milder region like ours, you should be able to start sowing seeds in the fall for a winter vegetable garden.

If you want a wildflower garden in the spring, sow seeds in the fall. You’ll need to check your USDA zone and sow seeds according to the package instructions.

In Arizona, the following seeds can be sown in the fall.

Vegetables and herbs – Carrots, beets, broccoli, parsley, spinach, kale, and turnip
Flowers – Snapdragons, Sweet pea, Petunia are just a few of the pretty flowers I like to grow
Grass – If you want a green lawn in Arizona in the winter, you’ll need to sow winter ryegrass in October

Tip #6 – Take care of your fall flowers

Mums are a popular fall flower and they can last the entire season with proper care. Take care of your fall mums for the best results. See my post on how to save money on fall mums for more tips.

We are fortunate to live in a region where we can plant flowers in the fall. Every October, I look forward to going to the nursery to buy a few annuals that usually last from October thru April. I typically purchase seasonal annuals such as geraniums, petunias, pansies, carnations, and snapdragons from a local nursery. It’s best to plant these in the garden before the weather gets too cold so that the roots of these plants are firmly established. Most regions of the country are not as fortunate as we are so this may not apply to you!

Tip #7 – Order bare-root roses and look after your existing roses

If you love growing roses like I do, and haven’t done so already, now is a great time to order bare-root roses so that they arrive at the right time for your region and you get the best selection. I enjoy growing garden roses and often order a few from David Austin roses each year. The plants usually arrive in late January or early February for our zone and they’ll ship the roses to you at the right time for your zone. Their catalog is amazing and it’s worth ordering to just look at the beautiful pictures and gain helpful information.

Continue to deadhead existing roses unless you’d like to have rose hips. In our garden in Arizona, roses start to bloom in October as the temperatures cool down. I fertilize the plants in September and spray for pests as needed. In cooler climes, roses will start to hibernate and as the weather gets colder and they start to go dormant. Certain types of hybrid tea roses need additional care in snowy and wintery weather conditions.

Tip #8 – Take care of garden maintenance tasks

I’ve put together a few helpful garden maintenance tasks below. Let me know in the comments section if there are others that you typically do in the fall. I love planting and harvesting but gardening maintenance tasks are my least favorite of the ten fall gardening tips!

Adjust sprinklers and prepare for winter
Clean your garden tools
Clean your garden and keep up with sweeping and raking
Continue to weed your garden
Store away pots that you used in the summer or discard older ones that broken or damaged
Remove dead annuals
If you have Dahlia’s dig up, divide, and store for next year
In colder regions, overwinter plants that you’d like to save for next year. The Farmers Almanac has some great tips to help you with this task.

Tip #9 – Update your garden journal

Keep good notes on what worked well this fall and what didn’t. A garden journal is helpful so you can record key pieces of information to help you in the years ahead. I often take pictures and keep a digital journal for easy reference. Make sure to record ten fall gardening tips for your garden in your journal too.

Tip #10 – Plant Paperwhites and Amaryllis indoors

These beautiful flowers are such a treat at Christmas and they take 6-8 weeks to bloom. It’s best to start them indoors in the fall so that you have several beautiful flowers to enjoy during the Christmas season.

I hope these ten fall gardening tips for your garden are helpful! If you liked reading this post, please share with friends and family, and pin on Pinterest. Let me know in the comments below which of the ten fall gardening tips you found to be the most helpful!

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