As temperatures cool, my vibrant garden begins to fade. While I will miss the brightly colored flowers, I’m not too sad because I know many will be back next year. I live in USDA hardiness zone 8b, and enjoy the more moderate temperatures and spend as much time as I can in the garden.
Like many gardeners, I’m frugal and never miss an opportunity to repurpose plant material. Here’s how I put my fading flowers and plants to use every autumn.
Seed Collection
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The Spruce / Lacey Johnson
I have an internal battle on whether to collect seeds to sow next spring or leave them for birds and wildlife.
Just this week, a flock of goldfinches spent nearly an hour feeding on the dried seed heads of my black-eyed Susans. Since I have a huge bed, I didn’t mind sharing the seeds and enjoyed the show.
Once the foliage withers, I’ll trim the plants to neaten up the bed for winter. My zinnias have gotten tall and spindly, and it’s time to clear that bed.
Fortunately, I’ve been gathering the faded flowers all summer for seed. I’ll scatter the seeds next spring for this annual and delight in each new bloom.
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Drying for Decoration
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Linda Burgess / Getty Images
Many flowers and herbs dry beautifully, and I put them to use for fall and winter displays in my home. You can arrange them in vases, craft a wreath, or fill a bowl with potpourri. Of course, you need to pick most flowers and herbs at their prime to get the best results.
However, if you missed that window, don’t overlook seed pods, beautifully shaped branches, and autumn leaves for special indoor touches.
Creating New Houseplants
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Nathan Blaney / Getty Images
I have limited indoor space to provide houseplants with the proper lighting they need. So, I’m very selective about what gets to come back inside when temperatures dip. Since I have a long growing season, what began as a small plant is now a huge hanging basket or container plant.
Every fall, I take cuttings from an angel wing begonia that belonged to my mother more than 30 years ago. I root the cuttings and plant them in smaller containers to keep indoors. Next spring, they can go outside into the shade garden to flourish until I repeat the cycle.
Through my local plant group, I offer cuttings or plants for adoption each fall when temperatures hit the mid 50s at night. Pass-along plants are a way to share gardening successes with others and meet new friends.
Making Compost
Credit:
The Spruce
If you don’t already have a spot to create compost, fall is the perfect time to get started. The best compost is a mix of green and dry plant material.
As you clear your garden of fading summer annuals—out with the impatiens, in with the mums—add them to the compost pile. Then, toss in some dried leaves that are probably covering your lawn. Water well, go out and toss the pile a couple of times during the winter, and wait.
In no time you’ll have nutrient-rich compost to work into your garden soil next spring.
Don’t Compost Weeds
Don’t toss weeds in the compost pile now; the weed seeds will settle in over the winter and spring to life next year. Put weeds into a plastic bag and throw them in the trash.
How I’m Preparing My Remaining Plants for Winter
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Zummolo / Getty Images
There’s always something to do in the garden, even when the active growing season is waning.
For me, the most important thing is using a critical eye to assess what is working and what needs to be changed. I keep a running list in my garden journal of plants that thrive, and those that are lackluster or just in the wrong spot.
Even though my garden experiences mild winters, I still do these things to prepare for winter:
Monitor rainfall and supplement with irrigation. Most plants need about 1 inch of water weekly, even when they are dormant.
Mulch well. A layer of 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch helps retain moisture in the soil and regulates the soil temperature.
Provide protection for container-grown plants. Some containers should be moved to a sheltered location to protect them from winter winds and lower temperatures. Be sure to keep containers watered and that they are getting the right amount of sunlight.
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