Paul Zavolta/Master Gardener
| Special to The Times
Tour this garden created to address Akron’s food deserts
This garden in Kenmore gives free fruit and vegetables to nearby residents living in food deserts.
Although fall officially arrives in September, October is typically when it starts to feel like fall in the Pennsylvania landscape.
Daytime temperatures start to fall into the 50s and 60s and nights turn cooler with the potential for a first frost that will kill off warm-temperature vegetables.
October is also a good time to prepare the vegetable garden for the return of colder weather and the upcoming winter. Today’s article encapsulates a few steps and an overview of what to do to maintain a healthy garden space and prepare for the next growing season.
Here are some tasks to consider for an effective fall garden cleanup.
Garden debris removal: Dead and spent plants are typically removed after the first killing frost. They are removed to avoid disease and keep away pests. Diseased plants are recommended for proper disposal, while the remainder can be broken down into smaller pieces and are beneficial for adding or starting a compost pile. Dropped and rotting fruit should also be properly disposed of to prevent disease.Weeding: A final weeding is important to mitigate the potential for hundreds or even thousands of seeds that will become an issue during the next growing season.Garden tools and equipment: Pick up garden tools and clean them with a proper disinfectant so they are ready for the next growing season. Other garden items, such as cages and supports, should be cleaned and disinfected as well and properly stored away. Discard any ties and vines and branches from the supports.Testing your garden soil: Fall is a good time for testing your garden soil to check the pH levels and what nutrients may be lacking. Penn State Extension office soil testing kits at a low cost. After receiving the test results and recommendations, amendments can be made to the soil, which will then be available for your plants during the spring planting season. Stay tuned for our article in a couple of weeks, which will detail more about why soil testing in the fall is so beneficial.Replenish and protect your garden soil: Fall is one of the best times to replenish the garden soil with nutrients by adding organic material or compost. It is beneficial to cover the garden with a layer of leaves, straw or mulch. Another alternative is to grow a “cover crop” that can be turned over in the spring to add biomass and nutrients to the soil. Some cover crops typically utilized include small grains such as winter wheat, buckwheat, rye and oat seeds.Create new garden beds: Fall is a good time to create new garden beds for the next growing season. You can prep the area by setting your lawn mower on the lowest setting and mowing the area and then covering with a layer of cardboard, leaves, and other organic matter that will break down over the winter – see our article from Oct. 15 for more details on this technique, called sheet mulching.
October in Pennsylvania is the season of fall foliage with the wonderful colors of red, yellow and orange. Take time out to enjoy the season and the wonderful colors of fall, and remember that your future self will appreciate a bit of attention paid to the garden now to prepare for the spring season ahead.
Paul Zavolta is a Penn State Master Gardener in Beaver County.
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