As summer’s rapid growth dwindles, priorities shift. Plants spend less energy on blooms and focus instead on their roots. Fall offers a chance to look back on this year’s growth and begin setting up for a smooth growing season next spring.
Not sure where to begin your fall plant care? Read on for seasonal suggestions to help you start. You can also check out an upcoming workshop hosted by VLAWMO and Blue Thumb. We’ll gather on the evening of September 15th to practice some of these skills together, in live time.
Fall is a key time to pull weeds.
Cooler weather can make weed removal more manageable than in the midsummer heat. Taking care of weeding now makes sure you and your garden are set up for a smoother beginning next spring, as some weeds can unleash many seeds that create even more future challenges. Not sure what to pull and what to keep? This brief video from Blue Thumb offers some helpful tips for getting started.
If you have a rain garden, check on the inlet.
Plant debris, leaves, trash, and sediment can all disturb your rain garden when they are left in water's path, especially at rain garden inlets. Keeping this part of your rain garden clear ensures your garden can do its job: soaking in water, providing pollinator habitat, and helping clean water as the native plants help it infiltrate. A clear inlet also keeps your rain garden from becoming clogged.
Fall is a prime time to add new native plants.
While spring is thought of as the go-to time for planting, fall offers distinct benefits for plant establishment. Fall offers cooler air temperatures and warmer soil, which encourages plants to send more energy down into their roots before winter. This will lead to more robust growth next year, ultimately producing healthier, more resilient plants. Cooler weather also means your plants will need less water to establish than they would in warmer spring or summer temperatures.
Blue Thumb will be hosting a fall native plant sale on Saturday, September 19th. Find more information on their event webpage.
Leaving some leaves can benefit plants and pollinators.
Fallen leaves can be overwhelming. The good news is that intentionally leaving behind some leaves in key spots can have a positive impact on pollinators who benefit from the habitat of leaf litter heading into the cold months. Resisting the urge to cut everything back in the fall also makes sure other wildlife, like birds, have food through the winter.
If you can, focus on keeping hard surfaces clear of leaves. Sidewalks, driveways, and even lawns covered in leaves can harm water quality when rain carries nutrient-rich leaves down storm drains and into nearby waterbodies. Directing leaves under trees or into garden beds can insulate and protect soil over the winter. As the leaves decompose, they will provide your garden with nutrients.
Note: Given the unique drainage considerations of rain gardens, they are one exception to "leaving the leaves." It is recommended to keep rain garden inlets clear of leaves and to keep leaves out of rain garden basins.
Fall is a great time to learn new things.
Learning doesn't have to be limited to the classroom. Even if your formal education days are behind you, it's never too late to learn something new about native plants. Join VLAWMO and Blue Thumb for an upcoming workshop all about caring for native gardens. This hands-on workshop will take place in the native gardens at the White Bear Town Hall. Find details and sign up on the Blue Thumb website.
More resources for continued learning:
- Native plant care webpage (VLAWMO)
- Debunking fall planting myths (Blue Thumb)
- Fall yard care for pollinators (Blue Thumb)