Gardening is a popular spring and summertime hobby, but did you know it is equally enjoyable during these beautiful fall months? Sure, your hydrangeas may no longer bloom, but there are still many things you can do now amidst the cooler temperatures and vibrant fall hues.
Do you want to make fall gardening even more enjoyable? Do it with your grandkids! Here is how:
1. Harvest time!
If you’ve been growing veggies or fruits, now’s the perfect time to show your grandkids the joys of harvesting! Let them pluck ripe tomatoes, gather fallen apples, or dig up those potatoes. Trust me: Seeing their faces when they present their labor’s (literal) fruits is worth a thousand words!
2. Fall planting
While spring gets all the attention in terms of gardening, fall is an excellent time to plant some veggies like lettuce, radishes, and spinach. Let your little ones assist in sowing seeds or transplanting while teaching them about the cycle of life and how plants prepare for the coming winter. (Gardening and a science lesson? What could be better?)
3. Leaf collecting and composting
Those beautiful fall leaves aren’t just for Facebook photos! (Well, they are, but there is more to it, hehe.) Teach your grandkids about composting by collecting fallen leaves, setting up a compost pit, and explaining how these leaves will turn into nutrient-rich compost for next year’s garden.
4. Bulbs for blooms
If you are an avid gardener, you know that now is the ideal time to plant bulbs that’ll bloom in spring. Take your grands to the gardening store and let them pick out vibrant tulips, daffodils, or hyacinths to plant. They will have a ball digging holes, planting the bulbs, and anticipating the colorful explosion come springtime!
5. DIY scarecrow
Migrate from the traditional to the whimsical by crafting a family scarecrow! Gather old clothes, hats, and other knick-knacks to get those creative juices flowing. Not only does your magical creation protect the garden, but it also makes for a fun project with the kiddos.
6. Pumpkin and gourd fun
No fall garden is complete without pumpkins and gourds. If you haven’t grown any, buy a few and let your grandkids paint faces or patterns on them. Then, place them strategically in your garden for that perfect autumn look.
7. Bird feeders
As birds prepare for winter, involve your grandkids in making simple bird feeders using pine cones, peanut butter, and birdseed. You can hang your creations in the garden and enjoy watching feathery friends pay a visit.
8. Herb drying
If you’ve been growing herbs, fall is the best time to dry and store them. Engage your grandkids in cutting, bundling, and hanging herbs for drying. Once dried, let them have at it by crushing them and storing them in jars.
9. Garden clean-up
Teach your grandbabies responsibility and the importance of preparing for the seasons by cleaning up the garden beds, pulling out spent plants, and maybe even having a small bonfire (supervised, of course!) with twigs and branches. (If you do the latter, ensure ingredients for s’mores are on hand!)
10. Storytime in the Garden
Lastly, after a hard day’s work, invite the grands to cozy up with blankets and hot cocoa while you narrate stories or read children’s books about gardens.
Conclusion
Gardening, at its core, is more than just plants and soil – It’s about nurturing, learning, and bonding. So, this fall, as the leaves turn and the days grow shorter, make the most of your garden, not just as a space of growth but as a playground of memories with your grandkids.