Top 6 Tips for Prepping Your Garden Beds for Fall

As summer winds down, it’s the perfect time to give your garden beds some extra attention before cooler weather sets in. Whether you plan to plant a fall crop or simply want to preserve your soil until spring, prepping your beds now will save you time and effort later. Here are some essential steps to get your garden ready:

1. Clear Out Summer Growth

• Pull weeds: Remove weeds completely—roots and all—to prevent them from spreading into the next season.

• Remove old plants: Spent vegetable plants should be pulled up. If they’re healthy, you can compost them. But if they show signs of disease, pests, or fungal problems, don’t compost them—burn or dispose of them instead to prevent future contamination.

2. Replenish Soil in Raised Beds

Raised beds lose nutrients faster than in-ground beds. After summer crops, check soil levels:

• Add fresh soil mix: If the soil has compacted or sunk, top it off. At Manning’s Feed and Seed, we carry a Raised Bed Mix perfect for revitalizing your garden beds.

• Amend with compost: Adding organic matter restores nutrients and improves soil structure for the next growing season.

3. Test and Balance Soil Health

Healthy soil means healthy plants. Before planting again:

• Test your soil’s pH: Ideal vegetable garden soil ranges between 6.0 and 7.0, but different crops prefer slightly different ranges. Manning’s Feed and Seed offers soil testing to help you get accurate results.

• Amend as needed: Use lime to raise pH or sulfur to lower it, and don’t forget to replenish essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

4. Preserve Soil if You’re Not Planting a Fall Crop

If you’re skipping fall planting, you’ll still want to protect your soil:

• Cover crops: Planting a cover crop (like clover, rye, or winter peas) prevents erosion, adds nutrients, and suppresses weeds.

• Mulching: A thick layer of mulch (such as straw or shredded leaves) shields soil from erosion, prevents weeds, and keeps beneficial microbes active until spring.

5. Plan for Pests and Disease Prevention

• Rotate crops when possible—don’t plant the same vegetables in the same spot season after season.

• Clean up any fallen fruit, vegetables, or plant debris to avoid overwintering pests.

• Sanitize garden tools before using them in fresh soil or new beds.

6. Bonus Tips for a Healthy Fall Garden

• Water deeply before frosts: Moist soil retains warmth better than dry soil, protecting beneficial organisms.

• Check raised bed frames: Repair or reinforce wooden sides before the weight of winter moisture causes damage.

• Plan ahead: Fall is a great time to sketch out next season’s garden layout, keeping crop rotation in mind.

Final Thoughts

A little effort now will give you a big head start for spring planting. By removing weeds and diseased plants, refreshing your soil, and protecting it through cover crops or mulch, you’re investing in a healthier, more productive garden.

At Manning’s Feed and Seed, we’re here to help every step of the way. Stop by either our Pace or Milton location for Raised Bed Mix to refresh your soil and take advantage of our soil testing services to make sure your garden is set up for success this fall and beyond.