4 Easy Steps for Fall and Winter Garden Prep

Your summer garden is all but dried up and you are ready to rip it all out and be done with it! Go ahead! Rip it out, but don’t call it quits. In zone 9b we are headed into the most glorious growing seasons of the year: The Fall and Winter garden. Think lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, peas, Brussels sprouts, squash! So, put on your favorite gloves, turn up the music (or favorite podcast) and get prepping your fall and winter garden!

Here are 4 easy tips for setting yourself up for garden harvest success all the way to Spring. Disclosure: This post uses affiliate links for products we use at our farm. See our disclosure and privacy policies for additional information.

Remove old plants
Remove all the old plants and toss them in your compost bin. Having a compost bin for the plants you are removing from your garden sets you up for a successful Spring garden. This is because all these dead plants will compost over the next two growing seasons and become the new soil amendments for your Spring garden beds. If you can run old plants through a chipper or cut them down to smaller sizes than the large stalks and vines that they have been in your garden, they will compost faster and more effectively. This is the chipper we use and it is a game changer!

Apply beneficial Nematodes
If your garden was anything like mine this summer, you had a devastating infestation of squash bugs. Never fear! Fall is the best time to remedy this and eradicate the eggs that have been laid in the soil for next year. Try applying a generous amount of beneficial nematodes to your Fall and Winter garden. Beneficial Nematodes are microscopic, non-segmented roundworms that occur naturally in soil. Inside the nematode’s gut is the real weapon- beneficial bacteria that when released inside an insect will kill it within 24 to 48 hours. These are best applied to your soil when temperatures are under 95 degrees and in the evening. Usually, it applied through a sprayer. This is the one we use.

Amend your soil
Amend your existing soil and add to the volume. You may have noticed that the soil in your garden beds has shrunk over the summer. This is because as you have been watering and tending to your plants, the soil has been composting and decomposing. This is a good thing. It is a living micro-biome! If you have been keeping a compost bin, this is when you will use it. Add the composted soil to your beds along with coconut coir and vermiculite. This will help retain water and provide aeration in your Fall and Winter garden beds. Be aware that coconut coir expands significantly as it gets wet, so add water to it before adding to your beds. If you don’t have an active compost bin, supplement with a good garden soil from your local garden center.

Top with mulch
Reserve the top 3 inches of your bed for a good quality mulch. By adding a thick layer of mulch, you are providing an insulative barrier for your tender plants that will help to keep them warmer throughout the winter months. Additionally, mulch helps to retain moisture and allows you to need to water less frequently and acts as a weed barrier. You can get mulch at your garden center or through Chip Drop, which is a free service, if it is available in your area.

Following these steps will set you up for a successful harvest of your fall and winter garden. As you bring in your fresh greens and peas daily, you will be so glad you didn’t throw in the towel after a frustrating summer season.