8 Gardening Projects You Can Do This Fall

There are many things to love about the fall season, but one of the greatest opportunities the cooler weather presents is the option to get out in the garden. Even though summer is considered a prime time for outdoor activities, the chillier temperatures of fall make it the perfect time to tackle some open-air projects that may otherwise fall off your radar. Here are eight fun fall gardening projects to put on your to-do list this season.

Plant a fall vegetable garden

Radishes, broccoli, turnips and green onions are just a few of the many plants that thrive in cooler weather. Radishes are particularly handy as they are one of the fastest crops to mature and can be ready to harvest in merely four weeks. Make sure to do your research on your zone prior to planting to be sure you’re growing crops that can be harvested before the first freeze.

See more: 12 Unique Ways to Decorate Your Home with Pumpkins

Plant trees and shrubs

Experts say that fall is the best time of year to plant your trees and shrubs. The soil is still warm enough to promote root growth but not so warm that all the energy goes into producing an abundance of foliage. Planting in the fall gives your trees and shrubs ample time to cultivate healthy root systems before summer arrives. Just be sure to keep new plants watered as the cooler weather can otherwise dehydrate them. You may need to water at different rates depending on what you plant, but a good rule of thumb is to provide water once a week if there’s no rain in the forecast.

Plant spring-flowering bulbs

Once the evening temperatures drop into the 40s and 50s, you can safely tuck your spring-flowering bulbs into the ground and start counting down the days until they blossom. Tulips, alliums, daffodils and crocus are among the top picks for spring blooms. Once you’ve planted the bulbs in the ground, be sure to mulch the top to keep them protected throughout the winter.

See more: 8 Bulbs to Plant This Fall for Spring Blooms Next Year

Build a compost bin

Anyone can benefit from composting, but it’s especially handy for those who already have a garden. Compost bins don’t have to be complicated. You can create your own using plastic barrels, wooden pallets, cinder blocks or even standard trash cans. Wooden bins may be more aesthetic, but keep in mind that they could rot over time and need to be replaced.

See more: Eco-Friendly Gardening Tips

Build a scarecrow

Even if you don’t have a lot of predators to frighten away from your garden, building a scarecrow can be a fun seasonal activity for adults and children alike. All you need are wooden garden stakes, a hammer and nails, straw, and a few old clothes and shoes to scare off any unsolicited animal visitors from your garden. Once your new addition is complete, you can turn this fun fall gardening project into a year-round activity by decorating it for each season.

Check out this easy do-it-yourself scarecrow tutorial.

Amend soil with leaves

If you live in an area that is home to a wealth of trees, you owe it to yourself to take full advantage of those autumn leaves. While most people are quick to rake up and dispose of their leaves, you can easily gather up as many bags of these discarded treasures as possible and use them to amend your soil.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by dumping the leaves in your yard, going over them with the mower to break them up into small pieces and raking them into your beds. The nutrients from the leaves add organic matter to your soil and serve as a mulch replacement over winter.

See more: What’s In Season This Fall?

Build a fire pit

Who doesn’t want to spend a chilly winter evening bundled up around the fire? If you can envision you and your family enjoying cool nights together roasting marshmallows around a backyard fire pit, it’s time to add this project to your autumn to-do list.

Building a fire pit is surprisingly easy. There are plenty of tutorials available online, but some of the easiest and quickest ones require concrete blocks, river rocks, a rake and a shovel. In no time at all, you can kick back in a cozy chair and enjoy the fruits of your labor all fall and winter long.

Plan for spring

Planning for spring might be every gardener’s favorite fall project. There are all kinds of micro to-do list items you can squeeze into this category, such as organizing your seed packets, sketching out plant locations for your raised beds or researching new varieties of fruits and vegetables to grow next year. No matter how you decide to plan for springtime, one thing is guaranteed: you can enjoy the process much more if you start early rather than wait until the last minute.

See more: Seed Saving 101: Harvest This Fall to Plant Next Spring