Lawns are perfect for spring planting with kids, but they can also compact the soil. Aeration will help this situation. Photo by Chabella Guzman
By Anita Gall, Nebraska Extension Master Gardener
Fall is the best time to aerate and overseed your lawn. Aeration relieves soil compaction caused by foot traffic, pets, and irrigation. All of these things often press the soil tightly and limit root growth. By pulling out small soil plugs, aeration opens channels for water, air, and nutrients to penetrate deeply into the root system. Overseeding after aeration ensures good seed-to-soil contact, helping thicken thin spots and improve overall turf density before winter.
The cooler weather also means it’s time to clear off vegetable gardens to prevent the buildup of viral, bacterial, and fungal diseases. Leaving old vines, stems, and foliage in place provides shelter for microorganisms and pests to overwinter, creating problems for next year’s crops. After removing debris, lightly cultivate the soil and add a fresh layer of compost. This restores nutrients, improves soil structure, and prepares the garden for early spring planting of cool-season vegetables. After the cleanup, consider cover crops for your garden. Planting cover crops in the fall, such as rye, clover, peas, or vetch in open garden areas, is an effective way to protect the soil from erosion and enrich it with organic matter. Cover crops will help support soil health by feeding beneficial microorganisms through the winter, and in the case of legumes, they fix nitrogen, improving fertility for the next growing season.
Fall is also one of the best times to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials. Instead of directing energy into top growth, plants focus on root development, establishing a strong foundation before waking up in the spring. Trees and shrubs can be planted until the ground freezes. Be sure to water newly planted trees, shrubs, perennials, and all evergreens throughout fall and even during dry spells in winter to prevent stress and ensure healthy establishment. For your established trees, prune out dead, damaged, or diseased branches to reduce stress on plants and prevent the spread of problems. However, avoid heavy pruning of trees and shrubs at this time. Significant cuts stimulate new growth that won’t have time to harden off before winter, leaving plants vulnerable to cold damage. The best time for structural or rejuvenation pruning is late winter to early spring, when plants are dormant and energy reserves are ready to support vigorous new growth.
While tidying up in the fall, balance is the key. It’s widely agreed that some plant material should be left standing. Hollow stems, seed heads, and leaf litter provide essential winter habitat for pollinators, birds, and other beneficial wildlife. However, diseased plant material infected with powdery mildew, black spot, fire blight, or rust harbor disease pathogens that can multiply under the right conditions and overwinter to reinfect plants next year. Clearing away this material helps break the disease cycle and promotes healthier growth in spring.
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