As the gardening year winds down and we transition into the off-season, there can be a sense of completion in the air… or maybe a sense of frustration if the season didn’t go how you wanted it to. You might be sad that the growing season is over, or you could be looking forward to the break from daily gardening chores. Wheather you are getting a late start, or a head start, your preparation for next year’s success starts now. From cleaning tools to planning seeds and testing soil, these seven simple off-season steps will help you grow smarter, save time, and enjoy a more productive garden next year.

Step 1 – Review the Past Season and Set New Goals

Hopefully, you have a gardening journal to review. Even if you don’t, right now is the perfect time to take a few moments and reflect on the growing season. What went well? What went wrong? Why did it go well or poorly? Take note of what diseases and pests you encountered and what products you used to counteract them. What varieties were the most productive, and which ones left you wanting more? Write all of this down so that even when your memory fades, you have something to look back on.

Next, identify goals you want to achieve for next season. Do you want to expand your garden bed? Do you want to try new varieties? Do you want to implement more sustainable systems, such as drip irrigation or a composting bin? Create a simple planning notebook to jot down your ideas during the off-season so you can adequately prepare and have a successful growing season next year.

Step 2 – Clean, Repair, and Organize Tools

A great way to be ready for the next growing season is to have all your tools clean and ready to go. Wash and sanitize pruners, trowels, seed trays, and pots to prevent disease carryover. Sharpen blades and oil moving parts on machines, such as lawn mowers. Repair or replace worn hoses, watering cans, and gloves. Create a clean storage area to make the spring setup easier. Take any necessary steps now to protect and preserve your tools. Not only will your equipment be easier to use next year, but doing these tasks will also extend the lifespan of your tools and equipment, saving you money in the long run.

Step 3 – Test and Improve Your Soil

Believe it or not, the off-season is one of the best times of year to test your soil. There are many ways to do this. One of the easiest is to get at-home kits to send samples to labs that will return a reliable and comprehensive view of your soil. Where I live in Michigan, I can get a kit through my extension service for about thirty dollars that tells me everything I need to know about my soil and how to amend it. Check in with your local extension office to find the best resources in your area.

You will want to get the soil pH tested, as well as nutrient levels and organic matter contents. Depending on the results, you will want to add compost, leaf mould, aged manure, or other common soil amendments. If you live in a colder climate where your soil is likely to freeze, it is best practice to protect the texture of your soil by covering your beds with mulch, cover crops, or leaves. For container gardens, discard the used potting soil and plan to replace it with new material in the springtime when you’re ready to plant.

Step 4 – Plan Your Indoor Seed Starting Setup

One of the best ways to level up your garden and save money is to start all your seeds from home! The nurseries often have overpriced seedlings with a relatively small selection of varieties available. If you learn to start your own seeds from home, you can have better variety selection while spending less money! The trick is having a good seed starting set up.

Basic Seed Starting Supplies:

• Seed trays,small pots, or soil blocking tools
• Humidity Domes
• Quality Seed starting Soil Mix
• Waterproof Heating Mats
• LED Grow Lights

Not all seeds need to be started indoors ahead of time, but many do. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs, and many annual flowers all benefit from starting indoors. The tools listed above will help to craft the perfect environment for seed starting success!

Step 5 – Choose Smart Varieties and Order Seeds Early

Take stock of what varieties you already have. True Leaf Market carries over 3,000 varieties of seeds! Search for seeds that match your needs and you will be amazed how many options there are. Choose varieties that match your climate and goals such as short-season crops for cold climates, disease-resistant varieties, deer-resistant varieties, cold hardy greens for early planting, and perennials or natives for low-maintenance landscaping. If you experienced pest or disease issues last season, try growing resistant varieties or using practices to reduce pest pressure.

Place you seed order early! The busy time for most seed suppliers is January to April, so the best time to plan your garden and choose your varieties is December to Februrary, depending on your climate. Get your orders in early to avoid shipping delays and ensure you have full access to all products without worrying about high-demand items going out of stock. Some seeds even need to be planted early such as wildflower seeds. It’s good to get ahead on things like this so you can be ready to rock and roll as early as possible.

Step 6 – Prepare for Early Winter or Spring Planting

There are many tools available on the market that can actually extend your growing season no matter where you live. Tools such as cold frames, row covers, frost blankets, and low tunnels can allow you to grow cool season crops much longer than without them. Crops such as peas, spinach, radishes, onions, garlic, fava beans, hardy lettuces, pansies, and snapdragons are all crops that can be started before it really starts to heat up outside. Map out your beds so you can plant as soon as the soil is workable.

Step 7 – Build Your Garden Calendar

Lastly, a fantastic way to use your downtime during the off-season is to plan, plan, plan. Make a detailed calendar now using previous frost-free dates and regional averages to determine when to start seeds, when to transplant, when to direct sow, and when you’re likely to be harvesting. Add reminders for when to fertilize, prune, and succession plant. Include time for setup tasks like assembling grow lights or prepping cold frames. Keep this calendar in sight so your season moves smoothly from start to finish.

Preparation Is Key

No matter how many years you’ve been gardening, you can benefit from preparing for the next garden season. Completing these simple tasks during the off-season will allow your growing season to kick off much faster and progress much smoothly. Take the guesswork out of “go time” and plan for success now.

Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

I am a native of Southwestern Michigan, where I currently reside. I love all things plants! After completing a Bachelor's Degree in Horticulture, I found a dream work-from-home job that allows me to share my passion. Now, I spend my days writing for TLM, playing with my dog, eating delicious food with my husband, and plotting my next landscape or gardening move. I believe everyone should get down and dirty in the soil now and then. Happy Gardening!