Seasonal Savvy: Cape Cod Fall Gardening Tips

As summer draws to a close on the Cape, you’re probably ready to take a deep breath, relax, and embrace all things pumpkin spice. But cooling weather doesn’t mean you should put upkeep of your Cape Cod landscaping on the back burner just yet. Invest in autumn planting and planning and not only will your landscape look fresh through the first snowfall, you’ll also enjoy more bountiful blooms when spring returns.

Autumn planting is generally easier and less pricey than its spring and summer counterparts. Many nurseries opt to put stock on sale in the fall rather than store it through the winter, so you can pick up plants at a discount if you plan ahead. Planting in cool weather also means less worry about fertilization and watering, so embrace those dropping temps!

Fall is a great time to divide spring-blooming perennials, giving them more space to thrive when they eventually bloom. Seeding your lawn in the fall is also a smart move—since weeds can’t take as powerful a hold during this time of year, you’ll see a definite difference in the health of your grass come springtime.

Decorating your landscape with mums and other hearty fall plants is a given, but are several perennials that will bloom through early fall, including several varieties of daises. Fall is also an opportune time to plant bulbs that will bloom in the spring. Fertilizing your plant beds in cooler temperatures will pay off as well. Less heat means more sustained root growth, so autumn fertilization goes a long way.

If you have fruit plants in your garden, consider transplanting them now. Fruits like raspberries, strawberries and rhubarb can take a toll on soil, and moving them to a new, nutrient-rich area every few years can make a big difference.

And of course, once leaves begin to fall, it’s important to keep up with them. Fortunately, you don’t need to clear your entire yard—leaving some piles to compost in appropriate areas will do wonders for your soil, but be sure to keep perennials and grassy areas clear of rotting leaves.

Hate going out to rake every year? Consider Whitten for your fall cleanup. We’ll do the heavy lifting so you can stay focused on the fun stuff.

Be sure to get your fall planting finished at least six weeks before the first ground freeze. (We know—with Cape Cod weather, that can be tricky to pinpoint. We wish you the best of luck!)

Do some extra autumn work and you’ll truly see the difference in your Cape Cod landscaping when the weather warms up again.