Extend Your Garden Season

When the air turns crisp and leaves begin to fall, many gardeners start to pack it up for the season—but not so fast! According to Powell Gardens’ Director of Horticulture, Phil Bishop, fall is one of the best times to get outside and work in your garden. Cooler temperatures mean healthier plants and more enjoyable gardening conditions for you. Plus, it’s the perfect moment to prep for a vibrant spring!  

Clear Out Spent Plants  

Start by cleaning up your garden beds. Remove any dead or dying foliage, especially leaves or stems that might be harboring pests or disease. Pull out annuals and cut back perennials that are finished for the season. Not only does this tidy up your landscape but it also sets the stage for a more productive garden next year.  

Pro tip: You can compost healthy plant material to turn this season’s waste into next year’s soil amendment!  

Feed the Soil  

Your soil is alive with microbes that need food and protection to stay active all winter long. One of the best things you can do in the fall is add compost. Whether it’s from your backyard bin or a bag of well-rotted manure, this rich organic matter gives beneficial microbes the fuel they need to break down into nutrients your spring plants will love.  

After composting your garden beds, add a thick layer of mulch. Aim for 2–4 inches to insulate the soil, suppress weeds, and lock in moisture over the winter. That blanket of mulch will help preserve the hard work of your microbes, giving your garden a healthy head start come spring.  

Plant Now for Spring Color  

Dreaming of daffodils and tulips? Fall is the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs. Cooler temperatures—especially when they dip below 55°F—encourage strong root growth before winter dormancy. When spring arrives, these bulbs will burst into bloom.  

Consider planting ornamental alliums, a Powell Gardens favorite, as well. These members of the onion family add whimsical height and texture to garden beds. Pollinators love them too!  

Grow Cool-Season Veggies  

Miss fresh greens? You can still grow food in fall! Our region (Zone 6) is perfect for cool season crops like lettuce, broccoli, kale, cabbage, and kohlrabi.  

These vegetables thrive in the mild conditions of autumn and often taste sweeter after a light frost. Some, like kale, are biennial and will return in spring to flower and seed—perfect for seed saving!  

Think to Spring Now  

“Fall is such a relaxing time,” says Bishop, “and it’s not the end of a season—it’s the beginning of the next.” By planting, feeding, and mulching now, you’re setting your garden up for success. Don’t overlook fall as a critical part of your gardening year.  

Want to see these fall gardening tips in action? Join Bishop as he walks through essential fall prep, cool season planting ideas, and the importance of soil health and mulch.  

Watch the full video on YouTube to get expert advice straight from the garden!