5 Fall Garden Tasks With Raised Beds
Although temperatures are dropping in the fall, it is still possible to grow crops on raised garden beds and have the opportunity to harvest fresh organic vegetables. The metal panels of the galvanized steel raised garden bed absorb heat and transfer it to the fill within the garden bed. This provides a warm growing environment for the plants, extending the growing season in the fall.
September marks the start of autumn and dry weather. Some of your garden plants will come alive in the cool of September, and you'll want to use this opportunity to plant and harvest a big wave of fall fruit, so you'll need to keep busy.
As the temperatures start to drop, it's time to start thinking about how to prepare and maintain your fall garden beds. Here are five basic steps you need to take.
5 Fall Garden Maintenance Tasks for Raised Beds
compost. The best time to compost is in the fall.
Test the soil. Test soil pH and nutrients for raised beds.
prune. Weeds, dead leaves and branches should be removed in time in autumn.
cover. A fresh layer of mulch will help protect them from winter frosts and cold.
In the autumn garden, what else can we do other than wait for the plants to wilt?
compost
Composting is usually possible year-round. Daily food waste and garden leaves can be composted by placing them in a compost bin or by burying them in a garden bed, the best time to compost is in the fall. There are two reasons. One is that some plants will start to wither in the fall and the leaves will start to grow. By removing the fallen leaves, fruits, and stems of poorly growing plants, the potential for disease and pest infestation can be reduced, and healthy dead leaves and debris can be composted as fertilizer.
Another benefit is that, coupled with the fact that there are more fallen leaves in the garden in the fall, and these are essential materials for composting, these residues can be used as an excellent green organic fertilizer when they rot. So, in the fall, nature can provide an abundance of organic nutrients that we can take full advantage of.
protect soil
In the fall, you can test soil pH and nutrients in your raised bed. Follow up with some phosphorus and potassium fertilizers for some seasonal or cool-season crops. Additional phosphorus or organic fertilizers are effective in promoting plant growth while increasing disease resistance and overwintering ability.
If you don't want to replant, you can test the soil to make sure all the necessary nutrients are present. If the soil is deficient in nutrients, it can be improved with organic matter such as compost or chopped leaves. If you place the soil a few inches above the top of your garden bed, you don't have to worry about freezing the soil in cold weather. This will make it easier to start planting when spring arrives.
prune
Weeds, dead leaves and branches should be removed in time in autumn. Removing litter leaves can reduce the host of overwintering pests and diseases, keeping plants green and gardens tidy. For some flowers with strong growth and budding ability, timely cut off residual flowers and residual stems, and moderately reduce flowering branches, which can effectively promote blooming again in the coming year. Pull out crops that have withered and are no longer growing in raised garden beds to make room for fall planting. The uprooted branches and leaves are dried and chopped to make compost or mulch. Why not have the best of both worlds?
cover
In fall, it is not necessary to remove all existing mulch from garden beds. A fresh layer of mulch will help protect them from winter frosts and cold. If the original mulch (such as leaves) has been consumed, mix it with the soil and add a new layer of mulch. The best winter mulch is bark flakes, bark silk, and straw.
autumn plants
Cool-season crops such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, turnips, kale, and rutabagas can be grown on garden beds in the fall, but it is best to use mulch to protect plant roots.
Semi-hardy crops (tolerant of the temperature range of 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit) beets, lettuce, potatoes, kale, mustard, Swiss chard, green onions, radishes, and cabbage.
Hardy crops (withstands temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit). Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, radishes, turnips, kale, and rutabagas.
All of these crops will be killed if the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. There is still time to plant before frost. See: Which High Yield Vegetables to Plant in Fall for Raised Garden Beds?
in conclusion
There is no doubt that a sincere, patient approach to our gardens will yield year-round benefits. Maintaining your raised garden bed in the fall requires far more than these five tasks, but they are a basic checklist you must complete.
September marks the start of autumn and dry weather. Some of your garden plants will come alive in the cool of September, and you'll want to use this opportunity to plant and harvest a big wave of fall fruit, so you'll need to keep busy.
As the temperatures start to drop, it's time to start thinking about how to prepare and maintain your fall garden beds. Here are five basic steps you need to take.
5 Fall Garden Maintenance Tasks for Raised Beds
compost. The best time to compost is in the fall.
Test the soil. Test soil pH and nutrients for raised beds.
prune. Weeds, dead leaves and branches should be removed in time in autumn.
cover. A fresh layer of mulch will help protect them from winter frosts and cold.
In the autumn garden, what else can we do other than wait for the plants to wilt?
compost
Composting is usually possible year-round. Daily food waste and garden leaves can be composted by placing them in a compost bin or by burying them in a garden bed, the best time to compost is in the fall. There are two reasons. One is that some plants will start to wither in the fall and the leaves will start to grow. By removing the fallen leaves, fruits, and stems of poorly growing plants, the potential for disease and pest infestation can be reduced, and healthy dead leaves and debris can be composted as fertilizer.
Another benefit is that, coupled with the fact that there are more fallen leaves in the garden in the fall, and these are essential materials for composting, these residues can be used as an excellent green organic fertilizer when they rot. So, in the fall, nature can provide an abundance of organic nutrients that we can take full advantage of.
protect soil
In the fall, you can test soil pH and nutrients in your raised bed. Follow up with some phosphorus and potassium fertilizers for some seasonal or cool-season crops. Additional phosphorus or organic fertilizers are effective in promoting plant growth while increasing disease resistance and overwintering ability.
If you don't want to replant, you can test the soil to make sure all the necessary nutrients are present. If the soil is deficient in nutrients, it can be improved with organic matter such as compost or chopped leaves. If you place the soil a few inches above the top of your garden bed, you don't have to worry about freezing the soil in cold weather. This will make it easier to start planting when spring arrives.
prune
Weeds, dead leaves and branches should be removed in time in autumn. Removing litter leaves can reduce the host of overwintering pests and diseases, keeping plants green and gardens tidy. For some flowers with strong growth and budding ability, timely cut off residual flowers and residual stems, and moderately reduce flowering branches, which can effectively promote blooming again in the coming year. Pull out crops that have withered and are no longer growing in raised garden beds to make room for fall planting. The uprooted branches and leaves are dried and chopped to make compost or mulch. Why not have the best of both worlds?
cover
In fall, it is not necessary to remove all existing mulch from garden beds. A fresh layer of mulch will help protect them from winter frosts and cold. If the original mulch (such as leaves) has been consumed, mix it with the soil and add a new layer of mulch. The best winter mulch is bark flakes, bark silk, and straw.
autumn plants
Cool-season crops such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, turnips, kale, and rutabagas can be grown on garden beds in the fall, but it is best to use mulch to protect plant roots.
Semi-hardy crops (tolerant of the temperature range of 30 to 32 degrees Fahrenheit) beets, lettuce, potatoes, kale, mustard, Swiss chard, green onions, radishes, and cabbage.
Hardy crops (withstands temperatures down to 20 degrees Fahrenheit). Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, radishes, turnips, kale, and rutabagas.
All of these crops will be killed if the temperature drops below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. There is still time to plant before frost. See: Which High Yield Vegetables to Plant in Fall for Raised Garden Beds?
in conclusion
There is no doubt that a sincere, patient approach to our gardens will yield year-round benefits. Maintaining your raised garden bed in the fall requires far more than these five tasks, but they are a basic checklist you must complete.