Fall is one of the best times of the year for gardeners. While Autumn might lack the energetic momentum of Spring and the stunning displays of Summer, the work done in the Fall garden is some of the most significant and can directly impact the success of your landscape next season. By following our simple Fall gardening to-do list, you’ll set your garden up to survive the Winter and thrive next Spring.
1. Brighten It Up – Fall Container Planting
Container gardening creates a moment of beauty that will bring you joy today and into the colder, greyer months.
- Remove Summer Annuals from containers and replace with Pansies, Mums, Rudbeckia, or Kale.
- Refresh entryway containers and porch pots using our Fall Container Gardening Guide.
- Try your hand at Porchscaping by pairing potted plantings with gorgeous heirloom pumpkins!
- Reach out to our experts for custom planting options in-store or let us take care of your exterior containers start to finish!
2. Time to Get Cozy – Mulching & Insulating
Soil, plants, and wildlife like birds and pollinators all massively benefit from a thick, protective layer of mulch or fallen leaves.
- Rake fallen leaves into landscape beds and underneath shrubs to act as mulch over the Winter. When the garden wakes up in Spring, collect and compost decomposed leaves. No fallen leaves? Use organic compost, bark chips, or straw instead!
- Be mindful not to overcrowd pansies, conifers, or evergreens to reduce fungal issues, and keep mulched leaves two inches away from tree trunks.
- Topdress lawns with a thin layer of shredded leaves or fine compost to boost soil quality.
- Scatter organic slug bait in perennial beds and vegetable beds underneath mulch every three weeks during mild, wet weather.
3. Add Something New – Fall Planting & Transplanting
Mild air temperatures, warm soils, and ample rainfall allow plant roots to establish quickly in Fall!
- Trees, shrubs, and even perennials and ornamental grasses can and should all be planting in Fall. Use a soil building conditioner and follow our comprehensive Fall Planting Guide here!
- Perennials or grasses that have died out in the center can be lifted, divided, and transplanted in Fall and will be much more robust the following year.
- Spring-flowering bulbs like Crocus, Narcissus, and Tulips should all be planted in Fall—shop early for the best selection of Fall bulbs!
- Our average first frost in the Portland Metro area usually arrives in mid to late November, so get Fall veggies into the ground before then and reap the benefits all Winter.
4. Sharpen Your Shears – Fall Pruning
A bit of touch-up pruning or shearing in Fall will make your trees and shrubs look their best through the Winter.
- Thin and prune out any overly dense or damaged tree or shrub limbs that might cause damage during wind or ice storms. Tip: Dull pruners can damage plants by creating wounds—pick up a new, sharp set of pruning tools like secateurs, loppers, shears, or snips today!
- Shear topiary and hedges like Boxwood and Laurel before the frost to keep the edges looking crisp and tidy. Tip: For large hedges, use our team of talented residential landscapers to get things under control before Winter!
- Wait to prune Rhododendrons, Camellias, and all Spring-blooming plants until after they have flowered.
5. Get Ready for Winter – Protecting & Winterizing
Long periods of cold along with extreme weather events can wreak havoc on unprepared landscapes and irrigation systems.
- Move citrus and tender and tropical plants to protected locations for Winter, and keep frost cloth accessible for layering onto evergreen plants during ice storms. Get more tips from our Winter weather preparation guide!
- Drain hoses and store in garden sheds alongside other garden tools over the Winter.
- Have your irrigation system professionally winterized before frost by our trained team of Irrigation Technicians!
SEPTEMBER IN THE GARDEN
OCTOBER IN THE GARDEN
NOVEMBER IN THE GARDEN
DECEMBER IN THE GARDEN