Autumn is the most important planning season in the garden. These ten small tasks make next year dramatically easier.

Autumn is not just a time for tidying. It is the season when next year's garden is mostly decided. Here are ten small tasks that pay off before the first frost.

  1. Test your soil and add lime or compost where it reads acidic.
  2. Plant garlic and broad beans for early spring.
  3. Divide perennial herbs and flowering plants before they go to sleep.
  4. Mulch beds once more before winter.
  5. Clean and sharpen your garden tools.
  6. Drain hoses and store them indoors.
  7. Compost summer plant debris (do not put diseased material in).
  8. Take a photo of the garden from one end — it helps you plan the next year.
  9. Write down what worked and what did not before you forget.
  10. Rest. The garden needs it, and so do you.