Putting Your Garden to Sleep

As the vibrant foliage begins its annual transformation, it’s a gardener's signal to start the vital process of "putting the garden to sleep." This isn't just a simple cleanup; it sets the stage for a spectacular spring.

For some, the conventional wisdom is a "clean sweep"—clearing every last leaf and stem. Instead, we encourage an ecological approach, leaving some material for native pollinators and birds, while prioritizing soil health and disease prevention. The best part? It can mean less work for you!

Vegetable Garden:

Preparing the vegetable plot is where a good winter rest begins, and it’s critical for avoiding pest and disease problems next year. First: Harvest everything. Remove all spent plants, cutting at the base of the soil to leave the roots underground. Compost, if you can, instead of throwing plants in the garbage.

Next, focus on the soil, the heart of your garden. Consider sending a soil sample to UCONN for $15 to guide you in your use of fertilizers or soil amendments in the next year. Fall is also a great time to make soil amendments, especially compared to the rush of spring. While thinking about nutrients, also consider your crop plan for the next year. Take notes of where you grew things, and make a plan to rotate crop varieties around your garden year to year to maximize your soil fertility and minimize problems with pests and disease.

Cold, wet Connecticut winters can lead to erosion if soil is left bare, taking nutrients and soil structure that your plants love! To combat this, consider planting a “cover crop” like winter rye or peas & oats to act as a "living mulch," holding the soil in place and adding beneficial organic matter. Even a simple, thick layer of compost or shredded leaves spread over the beds will provide protection and slow-release nutrients into spring.

Finally, while most planting is done, Fall is the ideal time to plant garlic. Get your cloves into the ground, pointed-side up, before the ground freezes, and top them with a good layer of mulch for insulation.

Perennials and Containers: 
When it comes to your flower beds, put down the shears! An ecological fall cleanup favors a "less is more" strategy. The rule of thumb for perennials is: if the foliage is brown or yellow, it can be cut down. However, you should leave the seed heads on many plants—like coneflowers, grasses, and sedums—as they provide winter forage for birds and structure for pollinators, like stem-nesting bees. About 30% of native bee species nest in cavities, many creating nesting chambers in hollow stems. To support these important insects, cut back dead flower stalks in the spring, leaving 8-24 inches of stem as habitat for adult bees to start nests.. Summer growth will hide the dead stalks as the larvae develop, hibernate through the winter, and emerge the next Spring to repeat the cycle. To help ground-nesting bees and pollinators, try ‘leaving the leaves” instead of raking them up. If you prefer a manicured look to your lawn, bring the leaves into your garden beds, like a mulch, or leave a dedicated area in a more wild state – it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. When used like a mulch, leaves can suppress weeds, retain moisture, and boost nutrition, so don’t let this valuable resource go to waste!

Fall can also be a great time to plant new perennials, like trees and woody shrubs. Since the shoulder seasons (periods between peak growing seasons-Spring and Fall) are wetter and cooler, the plant will have more time to establish before the stresses of summer, creating a healthier plant that may need less tending throughout the summer. For the same reasons, plant bulbs now too (tulips, daffodils, hyacinths). In addition to bringing in new plants, fall is also ideal for dividing your spring and early-summer blooming plants like hostas and peonies – dividing plants is a great way to bring more beauty to your garden without spending money!

Don't forget:
Your containers: Store all ceramic and terracotta pots indoors to prevent them from cracking when the moisture inside freezes and expands.

Drain Water: Drain all garden hoses and turn off and drain exterior water spigots to prevent frozen, burst pipes.

Clean Tools: Clean, sharpen, and oil your metal tools before putting them away for the season.

Putting your garden to sleep ensures that it gets a proper rest and reset, encouraging healthy soil and vibrant blooms when the snow finally melts. For guidance on ecological gardening, please contact info@nwcd.org with questions and follow NWCD on FB and Instagram.