You Could Start Next Year’s Garden Now Without Spending Much at All

Fall garden cleanup can become next year’s free gardening supply stash, from saved seeds and divided perennials to shredded leaves for mulch and compost – Shutterstock

Next year’s garden can start long before the first seed packet hits the shopping cart. In fact, some of the best preparation happens when this year’s garden still has plenty going on, because fall offers free materials, mature seeds, fallen leaves, fading plants, and plenty of opportunities to set up a better growing season without throwing money at the garden center.

That does not mean turning the backyard into a frantic autumn work zone. A few simple jobs now can save money later and make spring gardening much easier. The biggest payoff comes from paying attention to what the garden already provides, then putting those materials to work instead of hauling them to the curb.