Fall is just around the corner and for us keen gardeners, that means just one thing: a busy gardening season is about to begin. From bulb planting to pruning and giving our lawns some TLC, there's so much to get done over the next couple of months.
Before ticking anything off your fall gardening checklist, you need to gather some essential gardening tools. Whether you've got lots to plant, need to do some fall pruning, or are planning to collect seeds for next year, there's a plethora of tools to help you get the job done with ease.
But, you don't want to just buy any cheap tools that will need replacing after one seasons, it's always best to invest in durable tools that last for many years. To help you find exactly what you need, we've compiled our top tools for fall gardening.
Bulb Planting
One of the main tasks to get done this season is planting bulbs. But, this can be a particularly tiring and time-consuming job to do.
Luckily, there are several bulb planting tools you can use to make it easier – from bulb planters that cut a perfect hole for planting into, to trowels with a depth marker. You may even want to pick up a hori hori knife which can be used for planting, pruning, and more around the yard.
Just take care to avoid bulb planting mistakes to avoid disappointment come spring.
Leaf Collecting
While there are many benefits of not over-tidying your yard in fall (plant debris provides shelter and food sources for wildlife), excessive fallen leaves can smother your lawn and cause a bigger mess to clean up.
But, you shouldn't just dispose of fallen leaves, there are lots of things you can do with them. For example, you can make leaf mold and use them for mulching to keep plants insulated over winter.
Whatever you plan to do with fallen leaves, these tools make sweeping them up much quicker.
Lawn Care
There are quite a few fall lawn care tasks to tick off in the next couple of months. This includes dethatching your lawn, aerating your lawn, and overseed your lawn.
It's essential not to skip out on these tasks, otherwise your lawn won't necessarily come back greener and thicker in spring.
There are several specialized tools to help you get your lawn in shape before frost hits. Each one makes tasks quicker, more convenient, and less fatiguing.
Fall Pruning
There quite a few specific plants to prune in October – including deadheading and pruning tree branches – all of which need different essential pruning tools.
You need to ensure whichever tools you use are sharp and clean to protect your plants' health and stop the spread of pests and diseases.
Of course, you may also want to leave some faded seedheads for architectural and wildlife value in your fall garden, so be selective about what you remove.
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Collecting Seeds
One of the most enjoyable fall gardening tasks is collecting seeds from faded blooms to save and plant next year.
But, it's important to wait until your plants with seedheads have turned brown and dried, as this indicates the seeds are ripe and ready for harvesting.
Likewise, you need to store seeds properly to keep them viable – ideally somewhere dry, dark, and cool, like in a seed tin.
Fall Weeding
It can be a fall gardening mistake to not get rid of weeds, as many weed seeds can overwinter and take over your yard come spring.
The good news is, there are plenty of ways to kill weeds in fall and remove them for good. This includes using weeding tools to pull them up by the root.
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Soil Preparation
After a long, dry summer our soil health appreciates a bit of TLC to rejuvenate before winter arrives.
It's important to loosen compacted soil to prevent surface water run-off in fall, and to ensure it's aerated for plant roots to have access to oxygen.
Likewise, it's a good time to test your soil and see if it has any nutrient deficiencies and improve your garden soil accordingly to support the growth of new plants you add to your yard this season.
With your tools for fall gardening in hand, you can start preparing your yard for the incoming season. This includes doing the August garden reset that means less work in fall and working through your August planting list to ensure an abundant fall display.
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