As our summer gardens seem to dwindle down, they give us a great opportunity to plan for what comes next. With a little extra tending, we can transition our gardens for the cooler weather and rip the benefits well into spring. Here are a few things that can be done in the garden in the next month or so:

• Deadhead annual and perennial flowers. This simple task will help your plants to keep blooming until the first frost. You may choose to allow some flowers go to seed for birds to feed on, or to save and share. If you are unsure about how much to cut back, Gardenista has an informative post on What You Need to Know About Cutting Back Perennials in the Fall.

• Harvest your veggies and herbs. It is always preferrable to harvest when the veggies and herbs are at its best. True, sometimes we get a wave of produce we cannot eat all at once, but you can always share with family and friends, donate to local organizations, or learn how to preserve your harvest. Some preservation techniques include sun-drying, freezing, canning, and pickling. Keep an eye on our Events page for upcoming classes on these topics. The Zero Waste Chef also has a lot of resources like How to Ferment Vegetables in Brine and other preservation methods.

• Decide which summer crops need to be taken out. Some summer crops start browning and not being as productive. For example, tomatoes plants that are still blooming will most likely have a chance to ripen any fruit already on the plant, but the blooms may not produce the juicy, tasty tomatoes that it did earlier in the season. At this stage, the Santa Clara Master Gardeners recommend removing blossoms at this stage to allow the plant to focus all its energy into ripening already-formed fruit.

• Plant for winter. Early fall is a great time to start interplanting cool-season vegetables or start them in pots so they can be planted in the garden when summer plants are removed. The Santa Clara Master Gardeners have a useful planting calendar to help you decide what can be planted next. If you let your local nursery be your guide, look for plants that are not rootbound (check for roots coming out of the bottom of the pot - you don’t want that!).

• Prepare for spring color. If you like ornamental flowers, consider planting spring-blooming bulbs. If you have never planted bulbs before, Gardenista has a great information on What You Need to Know Before You Plant Bulbs.

• Plant cover crops. If you’d like a more passive approach to a fall/winter garden, cover cropping is a great way replenish the soil without leaving it bare. It is important to keep the organisms in the soil active and protected. The Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems offers a guide on Choosing and Using Cover Crops in the Home Garden and Orchard.

• Get/build a compost bin. If you don’t already compost, this is the ideal time to begin. Not only will you have plenty of fallen leaves and other compostable material from your garden, you will also make your own nutrient-rich soil amendment at home. If you start now, you may be able to have usable compost by early spring. To learn more about home composting and to sign up for a free workshop, visit the Santa Clara Master Composters website.

• Water your trees. Although we are in the middle of a critical drought, trees are vitally important to the ecosystem and society. Canopy has good resources on how we can Save our Water and our Trees.

• Plant a new tree. Fall is considered the best time to plant new trees and other native plants. Cooler temperatures, reliable rainfall, and short, bright days ahead will help plants make a quick and easy transition to your landscape. The autumn season provides an opportunity for plants to grow roots and start acclimating to their new home.

Happy gardening!