Top 10 Autumn jobs in the herb garden

Autumn tends to be the time of year when our gardens get neglected as we head indoors to stay warm and dry. But there are still plenty of jobs to do in the herb garden and it’s an important time to prepare for the winter months ahead, giving your plants the best chance to stay healthy and ready for Spring.

1. Harvest roots for teas and tinctures

Autumn is the long-awaited season for harvesting roots of herbs such as angelica, echinacea, marshmallow and valerian. Generally speaking, the best time to harvest is when the foliage has turned brown and the life-force of the plant has descended into the roots. Depending on how many plants you have and how much you want to harvest, you can either uproot the whole plant, or – if the plant has a large root system – you can carefully excavate around the roots to cut out a small portion without disturbing the central or tap root, allowing it to grow again the following year. Wash the harvested roots with a high-pressure hose then chop into thin slices before drying – you can learn more about that in our blog post ‘top tips for drying your herbs‘.

2. Weed out persistent weeds

Although autumn is the time of year when most perennial herbs die back and go into dormancy, some weeds just keep going…! This is a good time of year to dig out any weeds that have started to take over, especially deep-rooted and super hardy weeds like docks that may have found their way into your herb beds. Removing them in autumn prevents them from establishing any further over the winter, ensures their roots don’t regrow, and will give you a bit of a head-start in the Spring.

3. Cut back perennial herbs (or not)

There is some debate over whether or not to cut back perennials once they have died back and turned brown in the Autumn. Hollow stems in particular provide a valuable habitat for insects, and any remaining seeds are an important food source for birds. Also, the dried foliage provides a layer of protection against winter frost. The other side of the argument is that cutting back is sometimes the only way to access paths and weed your beds. And if there is any sign of mould, disease or pests, removing the affected plant material can be a vital way of reducing its spread. So, in short, there are pros and cons of cutting back and leaving them be. Here at Earthsong Seeds we gradually cut back many of our plants over the winter, mainly so that we can keep on top of weeding and be ready for Spring, but we usually leave a few plants standing; the birds love feeding on any remaining seeds of licorice mint, wood betony and echinacea which is always a joy to watch.

4. Harvest compost and organise compost bins

Autumn is the time of year when compost bins see the most action and are often overflowing. If you have well-established compost heaps and a layer of fully decomposed compost at the bottom, now is a good time to dig this out; a layer of compost on the surface of your beds can provide the plants with extra insulation against the cold, and the worms will get to work over the winter bringing it down to feed the roots for Spring growth. If your compost heap isn’t yet fully decomposed, best to wait until late Spring or early summer.

5. Divide and transplant overgrown herbs

Early autumn is a good time to divide large perennial herbs, especially those that may have outgrown their current spot. Dividing them in early autumn gives them time to establish new roots before the ground freezes in the winter. Don’t worry if you’ve left it too late; you can also divide plants in early Spring when they are emerging from dormancy. It’s worth noting here that not all herbs are suitable for dividing; plants that create clumps such as echinacea, skullcap and valerian can easily be divided, whereas woody plants such as lavender, sage and hyssop are best propagated by seed or cuttings.

6. Buy Bare Root Plants

Autumn is also an opportunity to buy in bare root plants, which can give you a head-start in the Spring, usually guaranteeing flowering in the summer of year 1 rather than having to wait until the second year as is the case with many herbs when grown from seed. Every year we have a small selection of bare root plants on our website. Learn more about our bare root plants.

7. Pot up or protect young herbs and potted plants

If you have young and tender herbs in your garden, autumn can be a good time to pot them up, or to put a marker in the soil to avoid accidentally disturbing or uprooting them over the winter. Container-grown herbs can be brought indoors to extend their life and protect them from winter frost. If you’ve sown biennials like milk thistle, clary sage, or woad in late summer and they are still in pots, it’s best to overwinter them in a greenhouse. Be sure to check regularly that they don’t dry out. If you don’t have an indoor growing space, you can provide some protection to your outdoor pots with horticultural fleece or you have a stash of unwanted bubble-wrap, that can help too.

8. Drain irrigation systems

It’s easy to get caught out by an unexpected overnight freeze. Now is the time to drain your pipes and store them safely indoors. Spray guns in particular have a habit of dying if left outside in sub-zero temperatures – something we have learnt the hard way!

9. Make leafmould

If you have a surplus of leaves, now is a good time to gather them up to make leafmould. Leaves can take up to 2 years to break down, but the result is worth it, especially if you wish to mimic woodland soil that is well-aerated, high in organic matter and able to retain moisture during dry spells. We use leafmould for valuable woodland herbs such as goldenseal and Himalayan valerian, and hopefully by the time your leafmould is ready we’ll have enough seed or plants to start selling them on our website!

10. Apply protective mulch

If you have easy access to wood chip, straw, or shredded leaves, you can use them to apply a protective mulch around the base of your plants, especially the less hardy perennials such as licorice mint, bee balm and sage. This insulates the roots and protects against frost damage. For extra protection consider using cold frames or cloches to shield delicate herbs from frost while allowing sunlight in.

11. Sow and stratify seeds

And last, but definitely not least (and a sneaky extra to our top 10), autumn is a valuable time for sowing seeds that benefit from cold-moist stratification. We have written a whole blog on this called ‘What is stratification and how is it done‘ – definitely worth reading if you are new to growing herbs from seed. But don’t worry if you’re reading this in late winter – you can also stratify seed in your fridge in early Spring and still get good results.