Fall in the Garden: What to Do Before Winter Rest

Winter is on its way, and the garden is settling down after another beautiful season.
Before the frost fully sets in, there’s a little work to do — a bit of tidying, some care, and a few finishing touches to help everything rest easy until spring.

Here on the farm, we have our own rhythm for putting the gardens to bed — and today, I want to share what we do (and what we happily leave undone).

Remove dead plant material

Peony plant ready to be cut

This is a big one for us — one of the most important fall chores on the farm. As much as I’d love to let the garden just drift off to sleep on its own, it needs a little help before winter truly settles in.

By now, most of our annuals and perennials have finished their show, and it’s time to cut them back and clear them out. Our peonies, for example, are looking like a moldy, sad mess — it happens every year! The best way to keep that mold from carrying into next season is to remove it completely. Cut those stems right down to the ground — no need to leave anything behind. The same goes for the annuals that have given their all; we trim them back or pull them up entirely to give the beds a clean slate.

Now, you could add weeding to this chore… but I’ll be honest — by this point in the season, I’ve thrown in the towel.  Sure, the pros say fall weeding helps keep seeds from overwintering, but the cons? Well, haven’t we been weeding all year? They’ll be back in spring anyway. Your call on that one!

And don’t forget about those dahlias — dig up the tubers before a hard frost hits. I’ll be doing the same soon… all 450 of them! (Yes, I’ll share a full post on how I tackle that soon.)

Rake those leaves.... or don't?

Now this one’s a bit of a controversial task. Every fall, as the leaves start piling up, you will see the posts on instagram heating up. 

On one side, the environmentalists say: “Leave the leaves!” They’re a cozy blanket for the critters — a place for insects, frogs, and other small creatures to tuck in for the winter. And truly, that’s a lovely thought.

But here on the farm? I’ll be honest — I don’t leave them. We have voles, and I’ve learned the hard way that voles love a nice, leafy hideout. Once they’re tucked in, they start snacking on the roots of my roses and young trees. Not exactly the kind of winter activity I want happening in the garden! When the leaves are cleared, the hawks can spot them more easily, and nature takes care of business.

Then there are the lawn folks — they’ll tell you that leaves break down into a wonderful source of nitrogen for your grass. They’re right! But too thick a layer, and those same leaves can smother the lawn instead of feeding it.

So, as you can see, it’s not such a simple choice after all.

Pros: A tidy look, fewer hiding spots for voles and moles, and grass that can breathe.
Cons: Less natural compost, and fewer cozy homes for overwintering wildlife.

Like most things in gardening, it comes down to your priorities — tidiness, wildlife, or a bit of both. Personally, I rake the leaves off the garden beds and mow them off the lawn but keep a few piles tucked in quiet corners where nature can do her thing.

Time to fertilize

Fall is such a wonderful time to get ahead — to nurture the soil and give your plants the best start possible for next year. As the growing season winds down, the garden shifts its focus underground. Fall composting is one of the best gifts you can give your beds: it lets organic matter slowly break down over winter, enriching the soil with nutrients and improving its structure so it can hold moisture while still draining beautifully come spring.

Leaves make a fantastic natural compost. You can mow over them to break them down and reduce the chances of critters making themselves at home underneath. Here on the farm, we use a mix of our household compost (collected all year long) and animal manure from a nearby farm. If you go that route, make sure to ask what the animals are fed — those details matter more than you might think!

If you haven’t composted before but want to start, keep it simple. Toss in coffee grounds, banana peels, and eggshells — it’s basically a garden magic potion. Don’t feel like dealing with chunks? Just toss them in a bucket with water for a few days, strain the mixture, and pour the liquid around your plants. They’ll absolutely love it.

If homemade compost isn’t an option, buying compost is an excellent choice — one we’ve used plenty of times. Just be sure to source it carefully. Some suppliers unintentionally sell compost made with materials treated with herbicides, which can actually harm your plants more than help them. A quick question or two before purchasing can save a lot of heartache later.

And yes, there’s still a place for bagged or liquid fertilizers. I like to give my hydrangeas and holly bushes a little boost with Holly-Tone, which you can find at most garden centers. Roses also appreciate a fall feeding before they settle into winter dormancy.

Fall feeding isn’t just about the plants — it’s about the soil itself. Healthy soil grows  healthy resilient plants, and when you take time to care for it now, your garden will thank you with stronger roots, and brighter blooms.

It's planting and dividing time!

Fall might be the season of slowing down, but in the garden, it’s also a time of fresh beginnings. The soil is still warm, the air is cool, and the pressure of summer watering is behind us — it’s the perfect moment to plant hardy perennials.

And honestly? This is one of my favorite fall perks — all the garden centers have HUGE sales. It’s the best time to start building the garden of your dreams, and you can do it for a fraction of the cost.

$5 for 1 gal perennials right now - I couldn't resist.

Many perennials in our region actually need a good cold period to thrive, so planting now sets them up beautifully for next spring. Just make sure to water them well before the ground freezes, since their roots haven’t had much time to establish. And, of course, there’s always the possibility that a few won’t make it through the winter — but that’s part of the gardener’s gamble, its a good excuse to plant a little extra. :)

Fall is also the perfect time to dig up and divide perennials that have gotten too cozy over the summer. It might feel counterintuitive to disturb them right before winter, but trust me — it works wonders.

One of my favorites to divide right now is catmint. It might look small and scraggly when you replant it, but come spring, it’ll burst back as a full, happy plant.

Other great candidates for fall division include peonies, hydrangeas, black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, irises, and daylilies. Each division gives you the chance to spread beauty around the garden (or share a piece with a friend).

Got one I’m missing? I’d love to hear what you’re dividing this season.

Fall is bulb time!

Get your tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and even garlic tucked into the soil before it freezes. It’s one of those chores your spring self will thank you for. Have you seen some of the new varieties they have these days? They are GORGEOUS.

Take Note!

As you start tucking everything in for the winter, don’t forget one last important task — take a few notes.

What thrived this year? What struggled? Which plants were too crowded, or didn’t get quite enough sun? What did you love most about your garden — and what didn’t spark joy the way you’d hoped?

I promise, once the snow starts falling and the seed catalogs begin showing up in the mail, your mind will drift right back to the garden. You’ll start dreaming and planning, convinced you’ll remember everything you wanted to change, move, or add.

Trust me on this one. 

By the time spring rolls around, those details tend to blur. A few quick notes now — scribbled in a journal, on your phone, or even the back of an old seed packet — will make planning next year’s garden so much easier.

And who knows? Maybe those notes will help you create the garden of 2026 — your best one yet.

I’m sure there are a dozen things I’ve forgotten to mention (there always are). I’ll add more as I work my way through these fall chores myself — hopefully with a few more warm days left to enjoy out in the garden.

 

 

As always, thank you for following along. Here's to cozying up next to a warm fire, sipping some hot chocolate and dreaming big for next year!