Harvest Hues: 6 Fall Garden Ideas to Elevate Your Yard

Are you sad about summer ending? Some people may have difficulty putting their gardening tools away until the spring. Fortunately, you can extend your growing season with several fall garden ideas, each elevating your yard with bold hues and warmth as the weather cools. If this sounds like your idea of a good time, grab your gloves and watering can and keep your outlook bright for autumn.

Preparing Your Garden for Fall

Before planting new flowers and crops for fall, you must prepare your garden beds. Start by removing all the old plants from summer — you can compost these or throw them away. Then, pull out weeds, leaves and other debris to avoid bugs during the next growing round. 

Soil quality is particularly important for fall gardening. Adding fresh soil and compost can improve soil fertility and nutrient density. 

Next, plan your garden by sketching where you’ll plant cool-weather crops, bushes or flowers, just as you would with your spring and summer garden. You may also decide to utilize planters or raised beds. 

Refresh Your Home Exteriors With These 6 Fall Garden Ideas

Who says the gardening season has to be over when the temperature drops? With the proper plants, techniques, and conditions, avid gardeners can enjoy spending time in their gardens until the first snowfall. Here are six fall garden ideas to elevate your yard during autumn.

1. Plant Cool-Weather Crops

At-home growers should take advantage of cool-weather crops in their garden this fall. In fact, sowing crops in July and August for a fall harvest is easier due to fewer weeds and pests. There is often more precipitation to keep your plants and soil moist, too.

Always plan your vegetables according to freeze hardiness and days to maturity. Some plants endure deep frosts better than others, and you want your crops to thrive. 

The best cool-weather crops you should consider growing include:

• Beets
• Carrots
• Broccoli
• Leaf and head lettuce
• Cauliflower
• Radishes
• Spinach
• Kale 
• Collards
• Turnips

Your crops should be fine withstanding a mild and brief frost of 28 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it is best to cover your plants with towels and blankets for any harder frost in the forecast.

2. Embrace Native Plants

There are several reasons to embrace native planting in the fall. For one thing, they’re well-adapted to your region’s climate, meaning they require little maintenance and care to thrive under naturally harsh conditions. 

They also require little irrigation — lowering water consumption — and provide a habitat for backyard wildlife. Pristine lawns have replaced 40 million acres of land that once supported ample species and high-functioning ecosystems. Homeowners can restore the natural environment with native flora.

3. DIY Pumpkin Planters

Few things scream “fall” as loudly as pumpkins. Those looking to decorate their front entryway with seasonal flair can make do-it-yourself pumpkin planters. 

Purchase a large pumpkin and a clay or plastic pot to fit it. Situate the pot upside down on the pumpkin and trace a hole with a marker or pen. Then, cut the top off and clean out the inside — the more you clean out, the longer it’ll last. Remember to cut one or two small holes on the bottom for the water to drain out. 

To prevent molding, spray the inside of the pumpkin with a peppermint oil and water mixture and allow it to dry. Fill the clay or plastic pot with soil, greenery or flowers and drop it into the top of the pumpkin.

4. Adds Pops of Fall Florals

One of the easiest fall garden ideas to spruce your curb appeal is planting annuals, perennials and shrubs. Mums, pansies, sunflowers and dahlias will all add beautiful pops of color to your garden bed. Other brightly-hued flowers to include are the following:

• Black-eyed Susans
• Chrysanthemums
• Goldenrods
• Cornflowers
• Marigolds
• Petunias
• Hydrangeas

The sooner you plant fall flowers, the better. They may need the extra time to establish roots and build durability for cooler temperatures ahead.

5. Illuminate Your Garden Beds

Adding lights to your garden beds is a nice decorative touch to welcome fall. Although you can find an array of seasonal decor — such as light-up lawn ornaments and jack-o-lanterns — you might take a more classic approach.

Install walkway lights leading to your front porch or spotlights against a tree. These will help serve as focal points for passers-by to admire your curb appeal. 

6. Plant Cover Crops

Cover crops — clover, legumes, alfalfa, wheat and millet — are fast-growing annuals you can plant in late summer and early autumn. They help prevent erosion over the winter months and improve soil fertility for the spring.

Experts recommend laying seeds for more than one type of cover crop — this will further enhance nutrient density. You can expect some of them to die off during the first big frost anyway. 

Till the remaining cover plants in the spring, giving them about six weeks to break down before planting new crops and flowers. 

Sustainable Tips for a Thriving Fall Garden

Fall presents a wonderful opportunity to adopt sustainable gardening practices. First, you should compost as many fallen leaves and branches as possible. Breaking them down beforehand makes them biodegrade faster while maintaining 110-140 F in the compost bin aids the process. If the temperature drops, add more natural debris. 

Other things you can do for an environmentally friendly gardening season this fall include:

• Using cover crops to prevent soil erosion during the colder months.
• Avoiding chemical fertilizers and pesticides, opting for organic pest control instead.
• Harvesting rainwater to save water during irrigation. 
• Applying mulch to retain moisture.

You may even put a bird feeder in the garden to attract winged pollinators. For example, it’s not uncommon to see robins in the fall and winter just as often as they appear during the warmer months. Other species, like the Black-capped Chickadees, migrate to the Carolinas when the temperature drops.

Enjoy the Extended Growing Season With Fall Garden Ideas

Fall marks a new beginning for seasonal change and new growth in your garden. Embrace the bold and beautiful colors of autumn with these fall garden ideas, and your property will stand out even more against the foliage.