Fall Garden Clean-Up Guide

easyGardeningseveral hours9 steps

Safety Warnings

Ensure plant parts are not wet before removing diseased sections to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Rake — Standard garden rake

Spade — Standard garden spade

Storage boxes — Shallow boxes for bulb storage(as needed)

Moist sand or earth — Packing material for root vegetables(as needed)

Eliminate weeds around plants and the general garden area to improve air circulation.

Tip: Removing weeds helps prevent pests and diseases from overwintering.

Carefully remove and destroy any affected or diseased plant parts.

Tip: Wait until the plant parts are dry before removing them to practice proper sanitation.

Rake and dispose of all fallen or discarded leaves and fruit from the garden.

Tip: This reduces the risk of disease and pests for the following season.

Dig up bulbs just before the first frost and cut the tops to within 2 inches of the bulb apex.

Tip: Place bulbs in shallow boxes in the sun and air for a week or more to cure.

Store cured bulbs in shallow boxes at a temperature between 45° and 50°.

Tip: Ensure the storage temperature never falls below 40°.

Dig up root vegetables like beets carefully after the first frost.

Tip: Handle gently to avoid breaking or bruising the roots.

Cut root vegetable leaves about an inch above the root and pack them in boxes with moist sand or earth.

Tip: Store in a cool cellar to maintain freshness and prevent shriveling.

Lift frost-sensitive plants into pots or boxes and move them indoors.

Tip: Use sandy soil for bulbs when lifting into pots.

Collect dormant-wood cuttings from trees or shrubs if propagation is desired for spring.

Tip: Bury cuttings in sand or moss where they will not freeze so the lower end can callous.

Synthesized from 8 verified sources:

Old Farmer's AlmanacView →

Gutenberg: Manual of GardeningView →

Old Farmer's AlmanacView →

Gutenberg: War Gardens GuideView →

Cornell ExtensionView →

Old Farmer's AlmanacView →