Putting the Garden to Bed

By Jill Chase

The idea of “putting the garden to bed for the season” needs a refresh. Previous generations of gardeners subscribed to the idea of cutting everything to the ground to make it all tidy before winter. This now feels a bit old fashioned. If there’s no real benefit for the plant, should we do it? There’s more than one way to do things, and it all depends on available time, resources and our vision for the garden.

Today we know that there are great benefits to nature by leaving some things alone until spring. Birds feed on seed heads and beneficial insects overwinter in hollow stems of plants and leaf litter. The key is to find a balance between leaving enough for nature and making an aesthetic you can live with. Mowing over leaves and adding them to the compost pile makes beneficial compost or leaf mold and gets wet leaves off the grass. Win, win.

Perhaps we want to think about leaving an area below trees undisturbed until spring? The concept of creating a “soft landing,” an area where we don’t mow that allows insects and caterpillars a chance to live and finish their life cycle, is an idea worth considering. Besides, some tall grasses add structure and movement to the winter garden.

You also want to set your garden up for a great next season. Start with a list of things you want for the garden for next year. Putting it in writing really helps. Are there jobs on your list that can be done in the fall to give you a head start on spring? Perhaps there are things you want to plant, move, dig or divide? October is a great time to do any of these jobs because the soil is still warm and the air is cool. Roots can get a grip before it cools too much and there is less demand on the plant from top growth. Plants are also often on sale this time of year—another one for the win column. Fall is also a good time to plant bulbs.

Much can be done in the vegetable garden. Remove any top growth of finished crops and compost healthy material. Some people like the “chop and drop” method where you, in essence, compost in place, replacing the nutrients taken from the crops. Some prefer to compost in an area specifically designated for this job, keeping the garden a little neater. In either case, remove any diseased plant matter. If you do have a compost pile, you might give your beds a good top dressing with your homemade compost. While you are at it, it’s not too late to plant garlic for next season.

Putting the garden to bed isn’t a one-size-fits-all scenario. It’s a series of little choices about what to do now and what to leave until spring. Find your balance between what is best for nature and for you. Let’s question the idea of planting in spring and cutting everything back before winter. Maybe flip the script this year.