Garden And Outdoor Fall Homekeeping Tips

Cooler temps at night doesn’t necessarily mean cooler days. Right now, the weather has been lovely, and I’ll take it for as long as I can get it. Still, the time has come to do some fall homekeeping and get our garden beds and outdoor areas ready for winter.

With the warmer temps lingering around these parts in the northeast, the fall preparations were on standby the past couple weeks.  No need for the hurry, but a sit down and a welcome nod to the lingering warmth. I’ve looked back in my garden journal and I’ve never harvested past October 1st. Now, we’re half into the month and I still spy a few tomatoes on the vine.  Are they still good?  Is their flavor still sweet?  That one night of frost – how did that affect the flavor?

Yup, still tasty!!

Here are a few great garden and outdoor fall homekeeping tips for you!

Garden And Outdoor Fall Homekeeping Tips

To me, I find a little romance in the garden. And of course I would – plants that I have spoken to daily and have nurtured through development, all keeps the definition of romance in check.   I head up to the garden to harvest and guide my plants, not only to find promise, but new fruit on par to ripen. Yet, I ask myself, when is enough, enough?  Of everything I grew this past season, it’s the tomatoes that are still holding on.  Where do they find their stamina?

But, being that we’re well into mid October, it’s due time to close up shop and quit while the getting is still good.  It’s time to get the garden cleaned up and prepped for the winter months and initial preparations of the upcoming spring that seems ever so far way at this point, on track for next year’s garden plantings.  Never fold, never give up.

This is the romance.

Add Compost To Garden Beds

Something started from seed that has been nurtured for months is now forced to close.  But not really.  Those plants that had some over-ripened fruit, some brown leaves, have found nutrients in the compost.  Pulled from the ground and added to the compost only stimulates wealth for next year.  Gourmet dirt, I always say, and a garden lottery to boot.  This is garden gold for the spring.

Another Fall Homekeeping Tip!

And while we’re prepping for fall outside, let’s prep one of the sources that helps feed the garden.  I’m talking about the outdoor faucet(s).  Time to drain them up and pack away.  Drain the water from all of your outdoor faucets, letting the water run out completely.  With the water completely drained, we don’t want any cracked seams nor threads.  Turn the outdoor water supply off, get the water out of the pipes, and store the hoses.  They’re in hibernation for the next few months.  Thank you for coming.

Brush Off And Store Trellises And Garden Decor

Here’s another great garden and outdoor fall homekeeping tip!

Always a little sad to store away what screams the warmer summer months, but a must is a must. The cucumber trellises are folded up and back in the barn.  Same for the beloved tomato cages.

The rake has been pulled over one last time for the year.  And the garden is now closed for the season.

How To Prep And Nourish Your Garden For Winter

And one more AMAZING fall homekeeping and garden tip!

Just because the growing season is over, doesn’t mean that the soil and garden beds can be left alone. In those freezing winter months, everything underground is still very hard at work. Your garden beds need to be prepped and ready for winter so come springtime, they’re ready to accept plants and provide a profitable growing season.