🍂 Fall Garden Checklist: Preparing Your Plants for the Season Ahead

As the days get shorter and the air turns crisp, our gardens remind us that change is coming. Fall is more than just pumpkins and cozy sweaters—it’s the time to prepare your outdoor (and indoor) plants for the colder months. A little effort now will protect your investment and ensure your garden thrives when spring returns.

Here’s a step-by-step fall garden checklist to keep your plants healthy and your home filled with life all winter long.

1. Bring Tender Plants Indoors

Many plants—like tropicals, succulents, mandevilla, hibiscus, and ferns—can’t handle frost. Before nighttime temperatures dip below 50°F, bring them inside.✅ Check leaves and soil for pests before moving them indoors.✅ Trim away dead or damaged foliage.✅ Place them in bright spots to ease their transition to indoor life.

Tip: We recommend applying a systemic granular pest treatment at least two weeks in advance of bringing plants inside. If frost comes sooner and you’re forced to move them quickly, a neem oil spray is a good backup option.

2. Overwinter Bulbs and Tubers

Tender bulbs like cannas, dahlias, and elephant ears won’t survive an Ohio winter in the ground.✅ Dig them up carefully.✅ Let them dry for a few days in a cool, dark spot.✅ Store in peat moss or sawdust in a breathable container until spring.

3. Prepare Perennials for Rest

Your perennials need a little extra love before they tuck in for winter.✅ Cut back dead stems and leaves (but leave some seed heads for birds).✅ Mulch around the base to protect roots from freezing temperatures.✅ Divide and replant crowded clumps while the soil is still warm.

4. Care for Shrubs and Trees

Fall is the perfect time to help your woody plants thrive.✅ Water deeply before the ground freezes to protect against winter drought.✅ Add a fresh layer of mulch to insulate roots.✅ Wrap young or sensitive trees with burlap to guard against wind and ice.

5. Clean Up the Garden Beds

A tidy garden now means fewer problems in spring.✅ Pull up spent annuals and add them to your compost pile.✅ Remove diseased leaves and debris to prevent pests from overwintering.✅ Turn soil or add organic matter to enrich it for next season.

6. Plant for Spring Color

Fall is prime time for planting spring-blooming bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths.✅ Choose firm, healthy bulbs.✅ Plant them at the right depth (about 2–3 times the height of the bulb).✅ Water well so roots establish before the ground freezes.

7. Transition Indoor Houseplants

If you’re bringing plants in for the winter, remember:✅ Light indoors is weaker—supplement with grow lights if needed.✅ Humidity drops in heated homes—group plants together or use a humidifier.✅ Water less often but don’t let them dry out completely.

🌿 Final Note: Fall is a season of preparation and promise. By tackling these simple steps now, you’ll protect your plants, reduce spring workload, and enjoy the peace of knowing your garden is resting well under winter’s blanket.

Stop by Cyndi’s Gardens to pick up mulch, planters, soil mixes, pest treatments, and indoor plant care essentials—we’re here to help you every step of the season.