Fall Garden Reset: 10 Tasks to Complete This Labor Day

Labor Day gardening marks a seasonal shift. As summer winds down and fall approaches, this is an ideal time for a fall garden reset. There are a great number of tasks that you can perform this weekend to create big changes in the appearance and function of the garden.

In many places, September brings a bit of relief from the summer heat. Those first days of cooler weather feel absolutely glorious in contrast. It’s the ideal time to make a list of the things you’d like to accomplish to set your garden on the path to its full fall glory. 

Every garden is different. Naturally, a gardener in zone 3 will have a different set of objectives than one in zone 9, like me. If you live in a short-season region, you’re probably well on your way to fall weather. 

Not to worry, I’ve compiled a list of fall garden reset tasks that are flexible and varied. Here are some common tasks you can carry out this Labor Day weekend to transition your garden into the next season. 

Remove Spent Annuals

Those hot end-of-summer days mean that annuals are probably not looking their best. I know for me, by September, my zinnias are a leggy mess, and the sunflowers are mostly just squirrel-ravaged stems. It’s time to get those out of there to make room for cool-weather flowers. 

This is a key fall garden reset task that keeps the garden looking healthy and tidy. It’s one of the most effective ways to visibly transition from one season to another.

Removing your spent annuals accomplishes some important objectives. Old foliage can harbor fungal spores, insects, and other problematic things. Removing them removes those issues so that they don’t spread to other plants. 

You can simply pull your annuals if you want to make a clean break, but that may not be what’s best for your soil. If you’re planning to replant right away, pulling them is more convenient. If you’re leaving the beds to recover for next year, though, it’s best to leave the roots. This helps add structure to the soil and prevents erosion. 

Deadhead Perennials

Deadheading your flowering perennials is another highly effective change you can make on Labor Day weekend. It serves several valuable purposes during a fall garden reset and creates a happier, healthier garden overall. 

Deadheading doesn’t just make the garden look neater. It also encourages continued blooming for many of those late summer into fall bloomers. It also prevents self-seeding from those more aggressive spreaders, which helps control the space in the long term.

Finally, deadheading helps redirect the energy in the plant. Flowers require a lot of energy, and when you deadhead them, you tell the plant to re-focus that energy. It helps the plant focus on foliage for a fuller appearance during the cooler season. It also directs energy to the roots for stronger plants overall. 

Plant Cool-Season Crops

If you’re north of zone 6, chances are you’ve already planted your fall crops. In zones 6 and higher, however, the temperature is just starting to drop. August heat slows the growth of many cool-season crops, so it’s not an ideal time for starting them.

Labor Day marks the start of September, and hopefully brings cooler evenings. The daylight hours are beginning to wane as well. Many cool-weather crops need cool air and shorter days to perform their best. 

Now is the time to plant your leafy greens. Directly sow these in the garden during your fall garden reset for a quick harvest. Many greens are ready to begin harvesting in as few as three to six weeks for baby greens. 

Plant your root vegetables now, as well. The warm soil will help with faster root development, while the cooler air won’t stress top growth. Radishes, beets, carrots, turnips, and more are all ideal root veggies to plant on Labor Day. 

It’s also a good time to transplant those brassicas you started a few weeks ago. Broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, and more should all be available as starts from the local nursery if you didn’t start seeds. 

Order Fall Planted Bulbs

Fall-planted bulbs are essential for a glorious spring garden. If you wait until spring to plant those bulbs, they won’t perform well, if at all. Most bulbs require a period of cold dormancy to perform beautifully in spring. 

This makes autumn the ideal time for planting your tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, irises, and many more. Depending on your zone, these should go in the ground between late September and November. 

That means that now is an ideal time to order them, to make sure that you have them in time. If you wait too long and the ground freezes, you’ll be out of luck. Plant them several weeks before a hard freeze so that they have some time to form roots. 

Divide Perennials

Labor Day is an excellent time to divide and re-plant your perennials that need thinning out. This gives them ample time to re-establish roots before winter dormancy. 

The combination of cool air and warm soil reduces stress and promotes strong, fast root development. Dividing those plants will rejuvenate those that have become overcrowded in the warm humidity of summer. 

Water them well the day before you divide to reduce shock. Dig up the entire root system and gently separate the root ball into smaller sections. Every section should have both roots and shoots. Make sure you replant immediately and water thoroughly.

Mulch Beds

Labor Day and the approach of fall are crucial times to work on protecting your plants. It’s also time for improving the soil and prepping for the cold weather ahead. 

Mulch is an important part of gardening and your fall garden reset. It protects and insulates your plants’ roots, and enriches the soil with organic materials. Over time, the nutrients in soil decrease as the plants use them up. By top dressing with compost and mulch, we put nutrients back into the soil. 

Spring mulch breaks down and incorporates into the soil by Labor Day. The soil is still nice and warm, so it’s a great time to pile on a fresh layer of compost and mulch. This will lock some warmth in the soil, so it keeps roots growing farther into the cooler months. 

Check for Pests and Diseases

Summer heat and humidity create a breeding ground for fungal pathogens and nuisance insects. By late summer, these things are reaching a crescendo, and if left unchecked, they can continue to do damage in the fall. 

Labor Day weekend is a smart time to inspect your garden for problematic pests and diseases. As we head into fall, cool, moist conditions can exacerbate fungal issues. Pests left in the garden can stick around, lying dormant in the soil until spring. 

It’s best to remove any plants or plant parts that you find affected by pests and diseases during a fall garden reset. Treating small infections and infestations with neem oil or copper-based fungicides is fine. However, for the sake of keeping chemicals to a minimum, I find it’s easier to just cut off the affected plant parts and toss them. 

Be purposeful about disposing of those plant parts that harbor insects and pathogens. Don’t compost them or leave them lying around to infect other plants. Burn them or bag them and dispose of them properly. 

Clean Your Tools

I will admit that in the summer, I’m not the best about keeping my tools clean and tidy. I’m always hunting for a shovel or loppers, and I rarely take the time to disinfect. Labor Day is an ideal time to get this done. 

Before you get to planting new things or doing any fall pruning, you want to have clean tools. This is the best way to prevent the spread of diseases. It also extends the life and effectiveness of your tools. 

Remove the dirt and debris and sanitize your tools. To sanitize, a simple solution of one part bleach to nine parts water is perfect. You can also use 70% isopropyl alcohol (or higher). After you sanitize, sharpen and oil your tools to keep them rust-free and protected. 

Plant Fall Bloomers

Labor Day is the perfect time for planting fall-blooming annuals and perennials. These bring fresh color to your garden as the summer plants are fading. They also nourish pollinators at an integral point in their lifecycles. 

The warm soil and cooler air temperatures promote root growth and reduce transplant stress. You can fill in those gaps left from removing your spring and summer annuals with plants that bloom until the first frost, and beyond. 

Maintain Irrigation Systems

Inspecting and repairing your irrigation system around Labor Day is a smart move during a fall garden reset. It’s especially important as you transition into fall planting and want to ensure efficient watering through the cooler months. This time of year is ideal because you can spot summer wear and prepare your system for winterization. 

Start at the source and check for any leaks and inefficiencies. Roots, foot traffic, and animals can all cause damage to hoses and sprinklers. If your system is on a timer, adjust to account for shorter days and cooler temperatures. You’ll want to water less in cooler weather to prevent fungal diseases.