Fall in New York is the perfect time to get your garden ready for the cooler months ahead. I always enjoy swapping summer blooms for hardy plants and adding cozy touches to my outdoor space.
From planting bulbs that will surprise you next spring to tidying up garden beds, there’s so much you can do to set yourself up for success.
Let’s go through the key tasks that will make your garden thrive even as the temperatures drop.
1. Clean Up Garden Beds
Clearing away dead plants and debris prevents pests from making winter homes in your garden. Remove any diseased material but consider leaving some seed heads for birds.
In New York’s varied climate, a tidy garden means fewer spring headaches. Remember to compost healthy plant material while sending diseased portions to municipal waste.
2. Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs
October through November offers the perfect window for tucking tulips, daffodils, and crocuses into New York soil. Aim for planting depths about three times the bulb’s height and add bone meal for nutrients.
Squirrels love bulbs almost as much as New Yorkers love spring flowers! Consider adding chicken wire over newly planted areas to protect your springtime investment.
3. Divide Perennials
Fall presents the ideal opportunity to split overcrowded perennials like hostas, daylilies, and irises. The cooler New York temperatures reduce transplant shock while giving roots time to establish before winter.
Use a sharp spade to divide plants, ensuring each section has healthy roots. Water thoroughly after replanting and apply a layer of mulch for extra protection.
4. Harvest Late Vegetables
Don’t let your final crops go to waste! Gather remaining tomatoes before frost hits – even green ones can ripen indoors on a sunny windowsill. New York’s first frost typically arrives in October.
Root vegetables like carrots and parsnips actually taste sweeter after light frost exposure. Harvest leafy greens promptly as they’re sensitive to cold temperatures that arrive earlier upstate than in NYC.
5. Plant Cool-Season Vegetables
Early fall is perfect for sowing spinach, kale, and radishes in New York gardens. These hardy crops thrive in cooling temperatures and can often survive light frosts with proper protection.
Consider using row covers when temperatures dip below freezing. Many New York gardeners find success extending their growing season well into November with these cool-weather champions.
6. Test and Amend Soil
Fall offers the perfect opportunity to assess your soil’s health. Collect samples from different garden areas and send them to Cornell Cooperative Extension, a resource many New York gardeners rely on.
Based on results, add lime to reduce acidity or sulfur to increase it. Working amendments in now gives them time to integrate before spring planting begins.
7. Mulch Garden Beds
Applying a 2-3 inch layer of mulch insulates plant roots from New York’s freeze-thaw cycles. Shredded leaves make excellent free mulch and add valuable organic matter as they break down.
Wait until after the ground freezes to mulch perennials and roses. This timing prevents mice and voles from nesting while still protecting plants from winter’s harshest conditions.
8. Winterize Irrigation Systems
New York’s freezing winters can wreak havoc on watering equipment. Drain garden hoses, store them coiled in a protected area, and shut off outdoor water supplies to prevent pipe bursts.
For in-ground systems, consider hiring a professional to blow out remaining water. Alternatively, DIY with an air compressor if you’re familiar with the process – just don’t skip this critical step!
9. Plant Trees and Shrubs
Fall’s cooler temperatures and reliable rainfall create ideal conditions for establishing woody plants. Roots continue growing even after leaves drop, giving New York trees a head start before summer heat arrives.
Choose native species adapted to regional conditions. Mulch well but keep material away from trunks and stems to prevent rot and rodent damage during long winters.
10. Prepare Lawn for Winter
Fall is actually the best time for lawn care in New York. Apply fertilizer with higher phosphorus and potassium to strengthen roots for winter survival rather than promoting leaf growth.
Continue mowing until grass stops growing, gradually lowering blade height for the final cut. Rake leaves promptly as they fall to prevent smothering grass and creating favorable conditions for snow mold.
11. Start a Compost Pile
Autumn’s abundance of leaves provides perfect carbon-rich material for composting. Balance with nitrogen-rich kitchen scraps and grass clippings for optimal decomposition, even in New York’s cooling temperatures.
Consider building a simple bin from pallets to contain materials. A properly managed pile will continue breaking down slowly through winter, providing valuable soil amendment by spring.
12. Protect Sensitive Plants
New York winters can damage borderline-hardy perennials and young shrubs. Create protective barriers using burlap screens for plants vulnerable to harsh winds and heavy snow loads.
For roses, mound soil or compost around the base after the ground freezes. Container plants should be moved to protected areas or wrapped with insulating materials to prevent root damage.
13. Clean and Store Garden Tools
Extend the life of your gardening equipment with proper fall maintenance. Remove soil from metal surfaces, sharpen blades, and apply light oil to prevent rust during storage.
New York’s humid climate can be particularly hard on tools left untreated. Empty and clean sprayers, wash fabric items like gloves and kneelers, and organize everything for easy access when spring returns.