21 fall outdoor chores to tackle before you put the garden to bed

There are plants to get into the ground and others to get back into the house before it’s too cold.

There are lawns to fertilize, roofs to de-moss and a whole lot of deadheading to do.

The best part of all this, of course, is it gives you an excuse to spend more time outdoors at a time of year when, let’s be honest here, the scenery is flat-out incredible. Not to mention — but I will anyhow — it can be fun gardening while wearing a fleece.

And if there are fall outdoor chores you have forgotten — or that never occurred to you in the past — we’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen again.

Don’t worry; you’ll still have more than enough time to fill out that holiday shopping list.

And if it helps, might we suggest not only buying WUG the gnome of his dreams (shudder), but getting dear Auntie Christy a Star Wars R2-D2 coffee press? You know they’ll love them.

I’ve been out in the garden doing the usual dividing, moving and planting this fall. I also got rid of an old trellis and several chainsaw-carved madrone logs on OfferUp, which is a great way to keep stuff out of the landfill.

You know that old saying, “one person’s old, tired garden junk is another person’s treasure?” I may have mangled that just a little bit, but it’s true nevertheless.

I’m looking forward to my winter indoor nesting time. Who knows, maybe we’ll even finish sanding and staining our kitchen cabinets, which we started last fall. There just never seems to be enough time.

Maybe we need a fifth season: Winter, spring, summer, fall and where did all the time go?

 

15. Fertilize, seed and mulch your lawn