Fall on the Farm: Rolling Up Our Sleeves for Next Season 🌿
A lot of people assume that once the blooms fade and the last bouquets are cut, we get to take a long break — but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Fall on the farm is one of our busiest, most important seasons. It’s when we prepare the land, care for our perennials, and set the foundation for everything that will bloom next spring.
The flowers might be done for the year, but our work is far from over. Every task we do now impacts how strong, healthy, and abundant next season’s blooms will be.
Here’s a peek at what we’re doing right now — and why it matters:
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🍂 Clearing Out Peony Leaves
What we’re doing: Once peonies finish for the season, we cut all their foliage back to the ground and remove it from the beds completely.
Why: Peonies are especially prone to fungal diseases, and old leaves can harbor spores that survive winter and reinfect plants in spring. By removing all the old foliage, we’re keeping our soil clean and preventing disease from spreading. It’s one of the best ways to protect these long-lived plants and help them thrive year after year.
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🍂 Cutting Back Annuals
What we’re doing: We’re cutting back annual plants but leaving their roots in the soil. The top growth gets tossed or burned (so they don’t reseed and become weeds later), but the roots stay underground.
Why: Those roots become food for the soil. As they decompose over the winter, they add organic matter and help build a rich network of beneficial fungi and microbes. This supports healthy soil structure and improves water retention — all of which make for stronger, happier plants next season.
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🍂 Refreshing the Soil
What we’re doing: After clearing the beds, we top everything with compost, soil conditioners, and acidifiers. We also run another round of soil testing to see what nutrients have been depleted through the season.
Why: Healthy soil = healthy flowers. Compost adds structure and life back into the soil, while soil testing helps us make thoughtful adjustments. It’s all about balance — we’re feeding the soil now so it can feed the plants later.
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🍂 Labeling Dahlias
What we’re doing: Before the first frost hits, we’re tagging each dahlia variety while it’s still in bloom.
Why: Once frost arrives, all those vibrant flowers vanish overnight, and it’s nearly impossible to tell which tuber belongs to which plant. By labeling now, we can dig up, divide, and store our tubers with confidence — and make sure the best performers return next year.
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🍂 Cutting Out What’s Not Coming Back
What we’re doing: Some plants just don’t make the cut for next year. We’re saying goodbye to a few roses, Montana, Verbascum, Daisies, some Rudbeckia, and Dahlias that didn’t perform well.
Why: Each growing season teaches us something new. By removing plants that underperformed or didn’t suit our space, we make room for varieties that will thrive. It’s always a little bittersweet, but renewal is part of the rhythm of farming.
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🍂 Starting Anemones (and Maybe Ranunculus)
What we’re doing: We’re planting anemones now — and possibly ranunculus soon — even though it’s a bit late in the season. With some careful row covering, we can still give them a head start for spring blooms.
Why: Early planting gives these cool-weather flowers time to establish strong roots before winter. By protecting them through the colder months, we’re setting ourselves up for an early flush of color when everything else is still waking up.
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The Bigger Picture 🌸
Fall is when we rebuild and restore. Every wheelbarrow of compost, every tag, every cutback — it all plays a role in nurturing the soil and planning for next year’s beauty. While the fields might look quiet from the outside, they’re full of unseen life and preparation beneath the surface.
This season reminds us that rest and work often coexist. The flowers may be sleeping, but the farm is quietly growing stronger — ready to bloom even brighter next year.
