Fall Gardening Tips – 23 Things You Can Do Now

How: The best thing to do is to run the gas powered tool until it runs out of gas. For the other
gas that is stored in a jerry can, make sure you winterize the fuel by adding fuel additive that
you can purchase from your local hardware store.
16. Hand Tool Longevity
Why: If you invested in good tools, the last thing you want to see is rust in the new year. Not
only is it unsightly, but it weakens the tool.
How: You can scrape the hand tools free of caked on dirt, sharpen them with a bastard file and
spray or wipe them down with oil before hanging them up for the winter. Come spring, they are
good to go.
17. Clean up the Vegetable Garden
Why: Cleaning up your vegetable garden will ensure that pests won’t make your garden their
winter home and minimize the risk of diseased vegetable crops.
How: Simply harvest all root crops and harvest unripened green tomatoes and ripen them
indoors. Till in manure or veggie soil to help replenish the nutrients now so that you are ready
to go in Spring. You can also use compost as well.
18. Storing Vegetables for the Winter
Why: Save money on your grocery bill and eat your home grown vegetables such as carrots,
leeks, and potatoes.
How: Store the vegetables in bushel baskets ½ full of pure dry sand and store them in your
basement or fruit cellar or cold storage. For tomatoes, take the remaining tomato plants and
hang them in a cellar or garage while the green fruit ripens. No light is required. Make sure the
plants are free from bugs before bringing them into the cellar.
19. Interlocking Paver Crack Filling
Why: Fill up the cracks between the interlocking pavers so that the spring thaw will run on the
surface as opposed to weakening the base of your interlocking pavers
How: Clean up the interlocking pavers with water and remove any weeds manually (if possible
with the roots) or use a weed killer beforehand to make it easier to remove the weeds.
Purchase a fine grain paver sand (with an adhesive) and sweep it into the cracks. Lightly