Autumn Garden Cleanup Tips from Award-winning Landscapers

The fall harvest season has come to an end; that doesn't mean it's time to leave your yard and garden alone, though. Make sure your plants and soil have the best chance to thrive in the future with a proper autumn garden cleanup.

Should You Clean Up Your Garden in the Fall?

Yes, fall garden cleanup is absolutely important for the health of your plants and soil, setting future seasonal plantings up for success.

What is Typically Included in a Fall Cleanup?

Fall cleanup can vary based on where you live, but in St. Louis, Missouri, it often includes items like:

• Mowing the yard one final time
• Clearing away plant debris
• Cutting back overgrown plants
• Pruning diseased plants
• Trimming ground cover crops
• Using anti-transpirant on plant leaves
• Proactively applying pre-emergent
• Applying post-emergent as needed
• Composting dead plant material and other organic matter
• Mulching flower beds
• Evergreen and azalea fertilization
• Adding burlap or another cover to sensitive bushes and plants
• Winterizing irrigation and drainage systems
• Annual plantings of late-blooming plants like mums and certain shrubs

Other Fall Garden Cleanup Tips

Other ways to prep garden beds for winter and the next spring season include:

1. Choosing the right mulch. Not all plants need the same type of mulch to thrive. Mums, for example, like lighter mulch materials, such as pine needles.
2. Considering the pollinators. Clearing away all yard waste makes a yard look clean, but it can be detrimental to local insects. Consider leaving an area of the yard untouched, with plenty of leaf litter for native insects to overwinter safely.
3. Hiring experts. Preparing a yard for winter takes a lot of time and effort. Sometimes you simply don't have the time or resources for it. In these cases, it's a great idea to hire professionals familiar with your area to maintain your garden.

Autumn Garden Cleanup FAQs

What is the 70/30 rule in gardening?

The 70/30 design rule in gardening means a garden should be composed of roughly 70% structural or long-living plants (shrubs, trees, etc.) and the remaining 30% composed of shorter-lived plants like annual flowers (sunflowers, marigolds, etc.).

The 70/30 ecological rule in gardening means a garden should be composed of (at least) 70% native plants and the remaining 30% non-native plants. Missouri native plants that do well in the St. Louis climate include flowers like purple coneflowers, ornamental grasses like little bluestem, and fruit trees like the pawpaw.

What is the best mulch to winter over mums?

Chrysanthemums are perennial flowers that do best when mulched over winter months, so they are poised to bloom vibrantly the next year. The mulch they do best in, however, is usually a little airier and lighter than mulches for other plants. Straw, pine needles, and even shredded fallen leaves from your yard make great mulches for a garden bed with mums.

Do you typically let outdoor potted plants die or try to save them over winter?

Most gardeners attempt to save their outdoor potted plants during the colder months, often by moving them to a basement or unheated garage.

Is it beneficial to fertilize perennials for winter?

Yes, it is absolutely beneficial to fertilize perennial beds for winter, often 5 to 7 weeks before the first frost of the season.

Where do pollinators spend the winter?

Pollinators like native bees and other beneficial insects overwinter in Missouri in plant material like leaf litter or hollow stems and underground in the soil.

What do pollinators eat during winter?

Pollinators typically employ one of four strategies for energy during the winter:

1. Creating fat reserves ahead of time (e.g., queen bees)
2. Storing food ahead of time (e.g., honeybees)
3. Foraging on fall leaf litter or late-blooming flowers like asters (e.g., queen bees)
4. Migrating to warmer climates (e.g., certain butterfly species)

When is the best time to cut back perennials during autumn garden cleanup?

The best time to cut back perennials during the fall season is usually after a few hard freezes. This timing allows plants to conserve valuable resources for their root system while mitigating the risk of root rot. A good rule of thumb is to start trimming when perennial leaves get brown.

How can I prepare my garden soil for winter?

Ways to prep your garden bed and maintain it until the next spring include:

• Mulching flower and vegetable garden beds to protect root systems
• Amending the soil with a layer of compost or other organic matter
• Winterizing all gardening equipment, drainage systems, and irrigation lines
• Hiring professional landscape architects, designers, and gardeners to ensure top-quality autumn garden cleanup and year-round maintenance for optimal plant and soil health