CORVALLIS, Ore. — The days are short, the rain often unrelenting and the holidays fast approaching — but spending a little time in the garden or garage now can make a big difference come spring.
A common fall question is whether to cut plants back now or wait until spring. For vegetable gardens, the answer is clear: Remove everything. Pull out spent plants, including annuals, to reduce the risk of soilborne diseases that can persist for years.
For herbaceous perennials, the choice is more flexible. Many die back naturally in fall. In those cases, remove dead foliage and dispose of it in yard debris or compost — unless the plant showed signs of disease. Diseased material should never go into home compost.
Some perennials are best left standing. Ornamental grasses, coneflowers, Joe-Pye weed, sedum and black-eyed Susan provide winter habitat for insects and seeds for birds. Shrubs and trees with berries can also support wildlife during colder months.
What to do with fall leaves
Another frequent question: Should fallen leaves be raked up or left in place? The answer is yes — use them.
Spread leaves over vegetable beds to help prevent soil compaction from winter rains, suppress weeds, boost fertility and improve soil structure. Leaves are also beneficial as mulch around shrubs.
For perennial beds, there is a tradeoff. Slugs may lay eggs under plant debris, though this can be managed with low-toxicity slug bait. For many gardeners, the soil health benefits of leaf mulch outweigh the downsides. Avoid piling leaves or bark dust near slug-prone plants such as hostas.
Soil pH and lime
If you act quickly, there’s still time to add lime to vegetable beds and lawns. Start by testing soil pH using a kit from a garden center. If vegetable garden soil tests below pH 6, apply 5 pounds of lime per 100 square feet.
Delay major pruning
Take pruning off your fall to-do list. Most shrubs and trees are best pruned in late February. Pruning too early can encourage new growth that may be damaged by cold weather.
Always know your plants’ needs. Spring-blooming shrubs — including rhododendrons, azaleas, lilacs and forsythia — should not be pruned until after they flower.
Remove fallen fruit
Before heading indoors for winter, remove fallen or leftover fruit from trees and the ground. This step helps reduce disease and pest problems next season, including apple scab and codling moth.
Winter tool maintenance
Once garden beds are in order, turn attention to the garage. Clean and maintain garden tools before winter storage. Wash and dry tools, sharpen blades, oil moving parts and rub linseed oil on wooden handles to prevent cracking.
Basic sharpening can be done at home, but leave pruning saws and chainsaws to professionals to avoid injury or damage.
Prepare your lawn mower
Fall is also the ideal time to winterize lawn mowers. The most important step is emptying the gas tank. Start the engine, let it warm up for about 30 seconds, shut it off and siphon the gas. Restart the mower and let it run until it stops.
Gasoline contains ethanol, which attracts moisture from the air — and water in the engine can cause problems.
Additional maintenance tasks include:
- Changing the oil.
- Replacing spark plugs (check the manual or manufacturer website).
- Installing a new air filter.
- Checking spark plug gap with a gap tool.
Completing these tasks now ensures equipment is ready when grass starts growing again.
Until then, enjoy the slower pace of winter — knowing your garden and tools are prepared for a strong start next spring.
Previously titled Take one more go at the garden before retiring for winter
