Fall gardening, simplified

Many of us have eliminated our thorough fall garden cleanup in an effort to be more environmentally conscious. Leaving tree litter and hollow stems provides shelter for insects over the winter.

While sustaining your garden’s natural ecosystem is important, there are still a few tasks you can do to maintain your yard before tucking away the tools for the year.

Plant and lawn care

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Perennials gone to seed will feed birds, so there's no need to cut back plants until mid-spring. However, leaving huge piles of leaves on the lawn can damage the grass beneath. Move them to a compost pile where they will break down, or use them as mulch in your vegetable beds.

Tidy up

Pull vegetables and annual plants, such as petunias and impatiens. Remove any rotting fruit, which may attract bugs and rodents that harbour diseases that can affect next year's crops. Turn the soil to refresh the ground for next season's planting.

Think ahead

Autumn is the ideal time to plant garlic, onion and shallots in your vegetable garden. 

It’s also a great time to plan for spring blooms. Tulip, daffodil, and snowdrop bulbs are readily available at your local garden centre or can be ordered online. 

With these few simple tasks, you can ensure your yard is eco-friendly and ready for the upcoming season.

Garden hibernation

What to protect and stow away:

• Empty and store terracotta, clay and ceramic pots to keep them from breaking or cracking.
• Put away tomato cages and plant supports.
• Clean gardening tools, removing caked-on dirt.
• Prune trees and hedges, clearing any dead limbs.
• Wrap shrubs that are prone to ice damage in burlap.
• Thoroughly drain all hoses and store them.
• Turn off your outdoor water source.

Earn more

Get all the yard and gardening supplies you need to wrap up the fall season with CAA Rewards® partners. You’ll receive exclusive discounts and earn CAA Dollars®, too. Visit us online for a complete list.