Every gardener knows that patience is a virtue. The hard work you put into planting things and tending your garden might not be rewarded for several weeks, months, or even years. However, this delayed gratification also means there may be delayed disappointments. The mistakes you make in the garden today may not be clear immediately, but they could lead to the future demise of your plants several months from now. So, as we head into the cold weather season, where many of our gardening tasks are focused on prepping for spring, here are the three things you should do now to avoid pests and other issues down the line.
Aerate the Soil
Soil compaction is one of the main issues that comes up in lawns and gardens over the fall, says Chrissie Handley, a lawn care specialist and gardening expert with Online Turf. “With heavy use over summer and continuing into fall, the increased foot traffic can cause soil compaction and patchy regrowth of your grass,” she explains. “Compacted soil has a lack of structure and airflow, so it can struggle in autumn’s heavier rainfall. This means that water can’t drain properly and can end up pooling on your lawn, making it boggy and muddy.”
Aeration is the key to keeping your soil healthy and improving drainage. “It also minimizes the chance of overwatering and waterlogging your garden, meaning it will be in a better condition to handle winter dormancy and then begin re-growth in spring,” Chrissie says. And, if you have a small garden, a garden fork may be all you need to aerate, rather than investing in an aerating machine, she adds.
Aeration is also an important step in preventing future problems from pests that overwinter in the soil, including Japanese beetle grubs, black vine weevils, billbugs, sod webworms, and chinchbugs, says Brian Feldman, senior director of field operations at TruGreen. “Aeration also reduces thatch, the safe harborage site where many lawn pests find refuge during the cold months,” he says. “By reducing thatch, you can take away the pests’ home, so they don’t come around the corner next spring.”
“Aeration also helps open the soil for overseeding, a cool-season lawn practice that introduces improved grass varieties, which are more pest- and drought-resilient,” he adds.
Clear Debris
Aside from burrowing into the thatch, pests also like finding other hiding spots around the garden. “The piles of moist leaves and garden debris make perfect habitats for any surface pests, like slugs or snails, who actually lay their eggs in the soil ready for them to hatch in the spring,” Handley says. “Slugs and snails can destroy your plants, and they’re not picky, either—they will run rampant if not controlled.”
“That’s why it’s important to rake, mulch and/or haul away those fallen leaves regularly, trim back bushes and tree limbs, and clean up garden debris, and tame overgrown plants to prepare for the winter,” Feldman says.
He adds that moisture is also a magnet for pests. “So make sure to keep an eye out for standing water around downspouts, clogged gutters, or any soggy spots in your yard,” he says. “This is your best bet for stopping infestations before they even get started.”
Don’t Overcare
Sometimes, less is more, and that’s definitely true when it comes to garden and lawn maintenance in the cold weather months.
“The worst mistake you can make in fall is over-caring for your garden,” Handley says. “Don’t keep giving it the same maintenance that you gave it in the summer.” She recommends instead adjusting your level of care based on the local climate.
“Stop mowing your lawn, limit watering in the garden, and, if you’re fertilizing your plants, use a fertilizer tailored to the season,” she says. “This way, you’re allowing your garden to transition into winter dormancy and not risking scalping your lawn, overwatering your plants, or over-fertilizing your soil with the wrong kind of nutrients.”
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