Across the country, gardens are starting to
slowly wind down as gardeners shift their work from summer planting to fall
pruning and picking. Most tomato plants are still going strong and will
continue to do so until the first frost. Additionally, winter veggies are
nearly ready and butternut and acorn squashes will soon be in season alongside
pumpkins. Flowers gardens and landscaping beds are showing off mums, which will
return every season if cut back and cared for.
Fall gardening is a
time of both preparation and of harvest. Here are the tools you’ll need to keep
your garden going strong throughout the fall as well as those that will help
you prepare your beds for the winter months and the upcoming spring.
6 Gardening Tools to Invest in This
Fall
Sharp Pruning Shears
Fall is the time to deadhead and cut back plants to increase
blossoms for the cooler months as well as in the springtime. Keep your garden
shears handy any time you step into the garden, so you can tackle unproductive
stems right away. Dead branches can be mulched or composted, unless they are
diseased in which case they should be burned or discarded. Be sure your shears
are in good shape and have a working safety lock for storage.
Wheelbarrow
If you’ve got a bumper crop of winter squash
or tomatoes that just don’t quit, you’ll need a wheelbarrow to harvest and
transport your harvest. Additionally, fall is a great time to add mulch to dried
out garden beds or infuse your soil with rich fertilizers and compost. Every
gardener needs a quality wheelbarrow so look for one
that is ergonomic, with a pneumatic (inflatable)
front wheel to ensure a smoother carry.
Set of Rakes
Fall gardening often feels like and endless
cycle of leaf removal, but don’t look at those autumn leaves as pests, they can
be gold for your garden. Dead leaves can add needed nutrients back into your
garden soil, so consider composting them or mulching them into your vegetable
garden. Not all rakes were created for the same purpose, you’ll want a
clog-free leaf rake to gather leaves and twigs and a metal bow rake for
removing rocks and leveling out mulch and dirt.
Axe
An essential part of fall gardening is cutting
dead branches from trees to ensure they don’t cause damage with the ice and
high winds of winter. As you do so, set aside large branches and chop it up
into firewood. You’ll want to cure your firewood for a few months under the
protection of a tarp to ensure even burning without pops and sparks. Keep your
axe sharp and safely stored when not in use.
Bulb Planter
Springtime gardens are made in the fall, so
now is the time to get your bulbs in the ground. Tulips, alium,
daffodils, hyacinth, and other popular spring blossoms need to be planted in
the fall in order to bloom in early spring. A bulb planter can make this
easier, allowing you easily dig holes to the correct depth. Be sure to plant
your bulbs pointy side up and add in some quality compost to enrich the soil.
Garden Gloves
Fall gardening is a therapeutic but messy
business; a good pair of gardening gloves can not only keep
your hands clean but protect them from thorns and sharp debris. The sturdiest
gloves are made of sturdy leather to keep your hands clean and protected.
What fall gardening tools do you swear by?
Share them with us in the comments section below!
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Photo by John Bogna on Unsplash
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