Fall has arrived and days have become noticeably shorter. Now is the time to make the most of the remaining warm weather days in your garden.

Clean-up flower beds and dispose of any diseased or infested plants, to avoid overwintering the problem. Remember never to add sick plants to home compost piles, as with small volumes, temperatures will not become hot enough to destroy any disease spores or insect eggs. Instead, bag plant debris to prevent the problem from reappearing next spring.

Pick up any fallen fruit, and continue to weed. Clean garden tools, cold frames and greenhouses so that they are ready for use in the spring. Tune up lawnmowers and sharpen blades.

Be sure to listen to local weather reports for frost warnings and cover tender plants. After the first frost, dig and store tender bulbs, such as caladiums, cannas, dahlias and gladiolus, and store in a cool, dark area.

With Halloween approaching, pumpkin patches are now open for longer lasting ornaments, bring them inside if temperatures fall below freezing. And to ward off vampires, fall is the best time to plant garlic in Iowa. Plant garlic cloves one inch deep with the pointed side up, three to five inches apart in rows. After planting, place several inches of mulch on top of the rows to help protect the cloves over the winter. Remove mulch promptly in early spring, fertilize and the garlic will be ready for harvest by next August.

Some root crops, such as carrots and parsnips may be left in the garden to harvest as needed. To prevent the ground from freezing, apply a layer of mulch to help insulate for easier lifting and to keep produce fresh.

After you have finished harvesting your garden, plant a cover crop to till under next spring. Nitrogen producing plants, legumes such as clovers or vetches, will provide food for your garden next year, increase organic matter and help to suppress weeds over the winter. Visit your local extension office for further cover crop information or search on-line at: store.extension.iastate.edu.

Did you know? Have more fruits and vegetables than your family can consume? Share your abundance with friends or neighbors, and don’t forget about the local food banks! Harvest your fresh produce for others who may only receive canned goods. Be sure to call ahead first, to find the best date and time for delivery.

Gardening Questions? Contact McCormick at yvonne@iastate.edu for information or advice.