We tend to think that fall is when the garden winds down, and spring is when the work begins. But there are several chores that, if completed now, will make your spring job much easier.
For starters, by their roots in the fall will dramatically reduce their reappearance when the weather warms up again. I鈥檓 practically addicted to a long-handled tool called Grampa鈥檚 Weeder, which makes easy work of the task.
While you鈥檙e at it, thoroughly rake beds and borders where emerged this year. This will help prevent the pathogens from taking hold in the soil and infecting next year鈥檚 plants. Dispose of the leaves and debris in the trash.
Other disease-preventing measures include removing shriveled, 鈥渕ummified鈥� fruit from tree branches, and disinfecting tomato cages and plant stakes before storing (use a solution made of 1 part bleach and 9 parts water, or spray with a household disinfectant spray and allow to air dry.)
Clean, sharpen and oil tools now so they鈥檒l be ready when you are. There鈥檚 little worse than heading out to plant your new seedlings only to find your spade has rusted over the winter.
Protect your trees and property
If you planted new fruit trees this year, install to prevent mouse and rabbit damage. I鈥檓 partial to coiled-plastic trunk wraps, but mesh, wire and higher-end metal tree surrounds are also highly effective.
For safety鈥檚 sake, examine tree branches now, and remove any that are split, dead or broken, lest they rip off during winter storms and threaten people and property.
Prepare for new beds
If you鈥檙e planning to start new beds next year, save yourself the back-breaking labor of (or the money spent on renting a sod cutter) by smothering the grass over winter.
Define the future bed and or thick layers of newspaper, using landscape staples or rocks to hold it in place. Then, cover it with a few inches of mulch or compost.
The cardboard may be entirely decomposed by spring, but if not, just leave it in place and dig planting holes right through it.
Clear out the old beds
Clear out spent vegetable beds, then lightly turn the soil, incorporating , well-rotted manure and, if indicated by a low , lime. The amendments will work their way deeply into the soil by spring, enriching the root zone to give next year鈥檚 crops a natural, nutritional boost.
And for an early-spring gift to yourself, don鈥檛 forget to get (and into the ground. The longer you wait, the bigger the risk of delayed blooms, but you can keep planting them as long as the soil is soft enough to dig.
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Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up for weekly gardening tips and advice.
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