Fall is a useful time to plant and tidy the garden, even as summer annuals wind down. Cooler weather can make establishing a tree or shrub easier than planting into rising spring heat, provided you keep up with water and pay attention to the conditions in your yard.
Plant while you can still tend the roots
The changing light and cooler nights make it easy to think the growing season is finished. Trees and shrubs still need care after they go in the ground. Plant them properly, mulch around them and check their moisture rather than assuming autumn weather will do all the watering. Fall can give them time to settle in before warm weather returns, though a fall planting is no guarantee of a healthier plant by spring. Our notes on planting trees on cool days cover what to check at planting time.
Use the remaining garden time
The original article suggests lettuces, spinach, kohlrabi, arugula, radishes and Swiss chard for a late crop. What you can harvest before frost depends on how much of the season is left where you live, so check your planting window before sowing. If you have herbs to dry, cut what you plan to use. Basil is especially worth picking before a frost; the original suggestion was to make pesto and enjoy it later. Starter herbs has more ideas if you are planning the next round of planting.
Take a look at the lawn as well. The original advice mentions sod, reseeding and aeration as possible fall work. Those are jobs to consider if the lawn needs them, rather than a checklist for every yard. Our article on fall lawn care looks more closely at that work.
There is no need to do every fall chore at once. Start with the plants that need watering or a place in the ground, then turn to the harvest and the lawn while the weather still allows it.
