The second half of October leaves no room for doubt – the nights are getting colder, and the sky is crying more often than it’s smiling. Many of you have already gathered your final harvest and are looking forward to winter with longing… or a slight sense of dread.

I’m done with my harvest. Now it’s time for my little autumn ritual, which will undoubtedly bring huge benefits when the time comes for spring revival. It’s a simple concept, based on three pillars: cleaning, fertilizing, and covering. By following these steps, you’ll give your soil a proper vacation and wake it up in great shape.

Step 1: Notes!

Let’s start with the thing I always put off until the last minute, which is damn important. Don’t operate on the principle of, “Of course I remember where everything grew! I stared at these beds for months!”. Trust me – you’ll forget. It’s a proven fact. So before you weed anything out, make a quick note of what grew where this season. Your future, spring self will thank you to high heaven when planning crop rotation. This applies even to the smallest balcony gardens!

Step 2: The Big Clean-Up!

This is pretty obvious, but let’s look at that final, purposeful effort before the snow arrives. It’s about raking up and removing all the dead plants, leaves, and the last few vegetables you didn’t manage to harvest.
Why? It’s not just about aesthetics, although a satisfied spouse is a priceless bonus. Primarily, it helps eliminate shelter for diseases and pests that love to overwinter in such debris.

A small, weakly-humorous note from the author: If you keep stones or pots in the garden, look under them. Slugs might be trying to rent them out as their winter apartment. And you don’t want that.

And most importantly. Pull the weeds. All the weeds. This is the last moment to show them who’s boss.

Step 3: Fertilizing!

Your soil has been working hard for you for the last six months. Now it’s exhausted and deserves a solid meal. Some people do this in spring, but think of it like taking vitamins before flu season – better to prevent than to cure.

The king of fertilization is, of course, compost. Those of us who produce it swear by its power. It’s time to take that mature, year-old treasure out of the compost bin and spread it on your beds. You can gently dig it in or leave it on top. Compost is the healthiest way to aerate and enrich your soil.

If you don’t have compost, you can use store-bought fertilizers. It’s also a good idea to mix the soil with lime or wood ash.

Step 4: A Blanket for the Bed!

You’ve spent time and energy on cleaning and fertilizing. Don’t let winter conditions ruin your efforts! The easiest option is garden fleece or plastic sheets, but they have a downside – they can suppress spring growth and attract ants and slugs.

Therefore, my preferred method is mulching. It’s like choosing a more natural blanket. You can use hay, straw, wood chips, shredded leaves, or grass clippings. This layer not only protects the soil from frost and wind but, as it decomposes, it feeds it. It works while you… rest.

The End!

And that’s about it. Now let winter throw whatever it wants at us – harsh temperatures, sudden storms, snowfall. You can sleep peacefully, knowing that your soil is secure, nourished, and ready to reward you in the spring.

And right at the very end – don’t forget to clean and put away your tools properly. They’ve earned a winter vacation, too. Go and change your garden, and then book yourself a few months for that strategic, horticultural doing-of-absolutely-nothing