Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Fall Gardening Tips for Dad
Fall is here, and it's the perfect excuse to drag your kids outside, unplug them from their screens, and teach them that food doesn’t magically appear on shelves. Whether you're a seasoned green thumb or just hoping to keep a cactus alive, these fun (and slightly sneaky) gardening tasks will get your garden winter-ready while teaching your kids the ABCs of nature and sustainability. Let's dig in—literally.
1. Clean Up the Garden (AKA Leaf Wars)
Got dead plants, leaves, and weeds taking over? Time to declare war. The other weekend, I handed my kids rakes and told them we were “battling the leaf army.” They went nuts. One of them even made a massive leaf pile to jump into after every pass. They thought it was all fun and games, but really, they were my tiny pest-and-disease prevention squad. Of course, I joined in for a dramatic leaf-flop—parental involvement mandatory!
2. Plant Fall Bulbs (Future You Will Thank You)
Tulips, daffodils, crocuses—fall is bulb planting season. A few years ago, I made the mistake of planting bulbs solo, which was fine until spring came and my kids claimed zero interest in the flowers because they didn’t help plant anything. Lesson learned. Now, I let them dig holes (sometimes too deep, but hey, it’s a process) and plop the bulbs in. We call them “sleeping superheroes,” and every spring, they run outside to see which ones “wake up” first. It’s instant botany and way more exciting than any school lesson.
3. Add Compost (A Lesson in Rotting Magic)
Here’s your chance to get gross and educational. I’ll never forget the day my daughter discovered that banana peels and apple cores could turn into “magic dirt.” Her words, not mine. Now, she loves tossing veggie scraps into our compost bin and mixing it all up like she’s creating a potion. And honestly, it’s a win-win—she’s learning about sustainability while I get top-notch fertilizer for the garden.
4. Protect Plants for Winter (Mulch, But Make It Fun)
Winter is coming (cue dramatic music), so it’s time to bundle up your plants. Last year, we made it a game to see who could spread mulch the fastest. My son took it to the next level, tossing straw around like it was confetti at a party, and I didn’t even care because my perennials were cozy and frost-ready by the end. Bonus: the kids were so tired after all the “fun” that bedtime was a breeze.
5. Harvest and Save Seeds (Mini Farmers in the Making)
If you’ve got leftover veggies or flowers, it’s seed-saving time. One of my favorite fall traditions is letting the kids run around the garden collecting seeds. They think they’re hoarding treasure, especially when we label them in little jars or envelopes. My oldest still talks about the time she “saved the tomatoes” for the next year’s crop—even though we ended up with way too many, and I had to pawn them off on neighbors. But hey, it’s a great lesson in planning ahead.
6. Teach Patience (Good Luck With That)
Fall gardening is basically one big lesson in patience: plant now, see results later. I’ll admit, it’s not always easy for my kids (or me, honestly). But when I let them pick what to grow, like carrots or sunflowers, they stay invested. One year, my youngest insisted on growing purple carrots. They didn’t exactly thrive, but when we finally pulled a few tiny, twisted ones from the soil, she proudly claimed victory. It’s those little moments that make it all worth it.
By turning these fall gardening chores into fun (and slightly sneaky) learning moments, you'll not only prep your garden for winter but create lasting memories with your kids. Come spring, when your garden bursts to life, you can all bask in the glory of your teamwork—and maybe even take the credit. Trust me, when those tulips bloom or that compost pays off, you’ll be the family hero.
