7 Garden Tasks That Get More Expensive If You Put Them Off Until Spring

A well-prepared fall garden can save money and springtime headaches, from testing soil and planting bulbs to cleaning tools and fixing watering problems before winter – Shutterstock

Spring will morph a manageable garden to-do list into a full-blown project. A soil problem that takes a little planning in fall can become a scramble for amendments, a neglected tool can turn into a replacement purchase, and a planting window can disappear while the garden waits for someone to get organized.

Every garden chore does not belong on the fall calendar. Some pruning, planting, and cleanup tasks depend heavily on the plant and local climate. But several jobs make excellent fall projects because cooler weather gives gardeners time to fix problems before spring growth starts demanding attention.