Source: Rick Durham, Department of Horticulture extension professor  

As autumn settles in and temperatures begin to drop, it’s time to prepare your garden for winter. Fall offers an ideal window to protect your landscape and lay the groundwork for a thriving spring. Here’s a streamlined guide to help you get started. 

Begin by clearing away fallen leaves, twigs, and plant debris. These materials can harbor pests and diseases, so remove and compost healthy matter while discarding anything that is infected. While most pruning of trees and shrubs should be left until late winter or early spring, fall is suitable for pruning dead or damaged branches. Remove any limbs that pose a risk during winter storms. 

Soil preparation is also key. Incorporate compost or organic matter to improve structure and fertility. Consider testing your soil’s pH and nutrient levels to guide amendments for optimal spring growth. 

Fall is the best time to fertilize cool-season grasses like fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. Apply nitrogen in two or three doses spaced six weeks apart. Woody plants benefit from late-season feeding as long as soils are not frozen. Wait until the leaves on deciduous plants are turning colors to apply fertilizer to ensure proper hardening. 

If you are looking to spruce up your landscaping, fall is an ideal time to establish perennials, shrubs, and trees. Spring-flowering bulbs can be planted between mid-October and Thanksgiving. 

Next, apply mulch to insulate your soil and tree roots. A two- to three-inch layer of organic material — such as wood chips, straw or ground leaves — helps regulate temperature, retain moisture and suppress weeds.  

While mulching, assess frost-sensitive plants. Cover tender annuals and tropicals with frost cloth or burlap on cold nights and move potted plants to sheltered areas to prolong growth and flowering for a few days. Watering before a freeze can help, as moist soil retains heat better than dry soil. 

Finally, consider wildlife as you winterize. Leave seed heads for birds, create brush piles for small mammals, and install feeders. Piles of fallen leaves may also provide overwintering sites for butterflies, their larvae or other beneficial insects. Berry-producing shrubs and ornamental grasses add seasonal interest while supporting local ecosystems. 

By completing these essential tasks, you’ll safeguard your garden through winter and ensure a vibrant return in spring. 

To learn more about fall garden and yard landscaping care, contact the (COUNTY NAME) Extension office. 

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The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment news and communications team provides monthly Extension Exclusives in the categories of Horticulture, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H and Family & Consumer Sciences. To see more exclusives, visit https://exclusives.ca.uky.edu.  

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