Preparing the Garden for Rest

Oct 29

Written By Lisa Miller

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

View this email in your browser & see past newsletters

Create - Enhance - Restore

Hello friends,

Now is a great time to put the garden beds to rest and regenerate before another year of growth and abundance. While there may be some edible plants, flowers and herbs still going strong; fall is when many feel they can get ahead of tasks in the landscape.

There are quite a few tasks that you may want to tackle before settling inside with a book and blanket this winter. Check out - and download the Fall Season Checklist for reminders or new ideas!

Leave the leaves of course - If you haven’t heard me say it before I will say it again. Leave the Leaves. Yes there are some exceptions, but in most cases and in most places the leaves are better off right where they have fallen.

In addition to providing food for decomposers to turn into healthy soil, areas for birds to forage on said decomposers, the leaves slow the impact of rainfall and soil moving away from where we want it. Leaves also bring nutrients from above ground back down in the soil where the plant can use it for the next season. Healthy soils not only give your personal garden a boost it holds more carbon than the same space of atmosphere - therefore helping to combat the climate crisis.

Have you ever raked up a pile of leaves at the edge of the sidewalk to find piles of soil and water underneath? Well imagine if you were able to keep all of those resources right in your garden; what a great way to get a head start on your compost needs for the spring. Now - please do not rake up leaves from the sidewalk or street and add to your edible beds. These will have by-products from the road such as heavy metals, petroleum and rubber particles. These can go in yard waste or compost pile.

For those that have a lot of leaves or little space to store them - you may consider mowing over them and then pile them out of the way to break down a bit before spreading.

Lastly, leaving the leaves means you don’t have to put leaves in bags, carry, fuel-up or listen to heavy equipment. If you do - please don’t forget your earplugs.

If you have more questions or would like to get started building healthy soil contact me today.

Share with a friend to grow together!

What to leave for the birds?

Since many of the flowers in our area are still showing off I thought I would share this post again. As the peak season of blooms and harvest begins to wind down it is a great time to think about what to leave behind. In addition to leaving the leaves for insects (which will also impact the birds) and soil health there are benefits to keeping spent flowers. Here I want to move up, off the ground vertically. As we walk through the garden there may be several plants that have likely been pinched or dead-headed to extend the bloom, now is the time they can be left alone to finish their life cycle AND provide food for wildlife during the winter months. As the flowers turn to seeds they are telling the plant it is the end of the growing season and time to send energy down to the roots. Giving the shoots a season of rest as well. In addition to wildlife food sources they provide interesting features to look at in the garden. If we cut everything back it will likely be quite drab.

If there are plants that you have really enjoyed or do well in your area consider collecting a few seeds to spread around or to share with friends.

Examples of plants you may want to go to seed:

Sunflower, calendula, echinacea (coneflower), baptisia (wild indigo), roses, beans, columbine (pictured above)

Enjoy, experiment and share if you have others.

Moon Gardening

Since time immemorial our ancestors have lived, told time, fell in love, passed down stories and tended the gardens by the light of the moon. I would like to offer the opportunity for you all to learn more and engage with our only true and beloved satellite while digging in the soil and while walking other paths of your lives.

Please join me in honoring the moon by accepting and celebrating what she has to offer. I look forward to learning more with all of you.

For more background information visit and bookmark the blog webpage or the July 2021 post for the full introduction.

~ How does it work - different phases of the moon provide different energies for working in the garden (and all aspects of our lives) and support a specific task or goal. This is related to but not exactly the same as planting by Astrological days.

~ Where are we now?
Last month I shared a bit about the full moon and waning to the last quarter - time for harvest, and time for gratitude.

This is coming out very late in October so I will share just a bit about Samhain (October 31) and the upcoming Last Quarter phase of the moon.

As we transition from full moon towards Last Quarter on the 28th we are in a time of Disseminating. In the garden this is “The Energy of Roots” and a time to plant root vegetables and bulbs.

Out side of the garden this Disseminating time represents Gratitude and Thanks. A good time to step back and look for clarity of purpose and to gain new knowledge.

We reached Last Quarter on the 28th - a time for Banishing: Letting things go & Stopping bad habits.

To set the stage for a magical Samhain go to the kitchen or hearth as a place to symbolize life, death and ancestry. As noted in the “planner for a magical 2021" there are a few herbs and supplies to get to know better as you prepare for any fall festivities you like.

Protection: garlic, onion and pepper; as you cut, imagine repelling unwanted energy

Purification: Salt & Pepper, also peppercorns; yes you can toss it over your shoulder! Or try this seasonal bath soak.

Release energy or looping thoughts: knives & shears - use safely but let things go!

Ancestral spirits: create a kitchen altar to honor your own ancestors that make you feel 'at home' or other hearth deities (such as Brigid, Hestia, Vesta).

Power: spoon (or broom) to direct power, stir clockwise to visualize your desire, and counterclockwise to release and let go.

~ How to apply this in the garden?
This a great time to plant root vegetables and bulbs for the coming spring. Know that the hard work now will reveal itself when you need a splash of color at the end of the coming winter. Continue your harvesting of course!
Be sure to note your season (cool or cold) and your zone to choose the best fall or over-wintering plants.
Again write down what has been going well and what you may do differently next year.

October Moon Garden Plant Favorites:

Snapdragons
Sweet Alyssum
Butterfly wands (Gaura)

Sources and Resources:

Farmers Almanac

Planner for a Magical 2021 (my most favorite day planner)

The Moon Book by Sarah Gottesdiener

Online links for reference - Shop local, Shop small businesses!

I do not receive compensation for any affiliate links in email or on website.

Moon Phases and their associations.

There are four primary phases, in some resources you may see as many as 9. Please note this list of associations or attributes is not exhaustive, only a foundation to get us started on this journey together.

New - Set New Intentions, Start Projects, Renew and Regenerate
First Quarter - Take Action, Energy, Let things In
Full - Culmination, Complete and Fulfill
Last Quarter - Banishing, Let things Go

Waxing is the time between new & full; the first quarter

Waning is the time between full & new; the last quarter*

Remember these apply to all aspects of life not just in the landscape.

Ready for a garden refresh? Need design help? Not sure where to start?
Book a consultation today. Eco-Restore provides consults that follow the methods of Gardenary’s Garden Coach Society.

Start now to begin planning your Spring gardens, yes spring. We will continue working on these through October. Remember I am in the Pacific Northwest in USDA zone 8; if you are looking for help in another zone or region check out the directory of amazing consultants.

Schedule Today!

October Pro- Tip

Get your hands dirty with posts, tips and offers by visiting the blog
The Bee's Knees - News You Can Use.
Remember Tips are generally for zone 8a-b in western WA. If you have specific questions or would like a specific topic covered, contact me.

~ Purchase or make cloches to cover cool/cold season plants.

~ Make a place to begin saving your leaves for compost or leaf mould. You can directly apply leaves but letting them sit for a while is best.

~ Sow winter cover crops to replenish nutrients and organic matter for next year. Look for blends with legumes and grains together.

~ Water; check for dry spots and keep hand watering. Prepare to shut off irrigation and bring in hoses soon.

~ Collect seeds from your favorite & most successful plants to carry on next year.

~ Have an unanswered question? Book a 30 - min coaching call to start growing your best garden yet!

Schedule Today!

Eco-Restore provides landscape consultation services by visiting your site and evaluating options to transition or transform into a more sustainable outdoor space by recommending the best course of action. Design services are provided to meet the needs of your location and your desired use of your landscape.

Eco-Restore designs landscapes to create, enhance and restore healthy habitats. Every yard plays a role in nurturing native pollinators, birds, and other wildlife. Increase water quality and soil health all with a beautiful space to enjoy year-round.

Eco-Restore landscapes include: