Fall Garden Checklist for NYC Terraces, Backyards and Tree Pits

Fall is one of the best times to garden in New York City. The soil is still warm, the air is cool, and rain is more reliable than in August. Roots keep growing well after the leaves stop. What you do between now and Thanksgiving shapes how your terrace, backyard or tree pit looks next spring.

NYC sits in USDA hardiness zone 7b, and Manhattan usually sees its first frost in mid-to-late November. That leaves a few good weeks for the jobs below.

Plant now: perennials, shrubs and cool-season color

• Perennials and shrubs planted in fall spend the winter building roots and take off in spring. Get them in the ground at least four to six weeks before the soil freezes. Browse our perennials and outdoor plants.
• Cool-season color like mums, pansies, ornamental cabbage and kale handles frost and keeps window boxes and stoop planters looking good into early winter. See what's in our seasonal stock.
• Water new plantings deeply once a week until the ground freezes, especially if the fall is dry.

Containers on terraces and rooftops

Container plants are more exposed than plants in the ground. Their roots sit above the soil line, where wind and cold reach them from every side, and rooftop wind dries them out fast.

• Choose plants rated one to two zones colder than NYC (zone 5 or 6) for containers that stay out all winter.
• Use larger pots. More soil means more insulation for roots. Frost-resistant materials like fiberglass, heavy plastic and high-fired ceramic hold up better than unglazed terracotta, which can crack in freeze-thaw cycles. See our fiberglass and modern planters.
• Group containers together against a wall, out of the strongest wind.
• Bring tender plants indoors. Tropicals, herbs like basil, and most houseplants need to come in before nights fall below 50°F. Read our guide to bringing houseplants inside.

Feed the soil: compost and mulch

• Top-dress beds with compost. An inch of compost in the fall feeds soil life over winter and improves city soil, which is often compacted and low in organic matter. Shop compost and soil conditioners.
• Mulch after the first hard frost. Two to three inches of mulch keeps soil temperatures steady, reduces the freeze-thaw heaving that pushes new plants out of the ground, and holds moisture. Keep mulch a few inches away from stems and tree trunks; don't pile it against them. See our mulch.
• Leave some leaves. Shredded fallen leaves make excellent free mulch for beds and are good habitat for overwintering pollinators.

Sidewalk tree pits

Street trees belong to NYC Parks, but neighbors are welcome to care for the tree beds. Fall is a good time to tidy them up:

• Loosen compacted soil gently by hand, staying shallow to avoid damaging tree roots.
• Add only a thin layer of soil or compost. Don't raise the soil level against the trunk.
• Water the tree during dry spells until the ground freezes.
• Consider a tree guard. It protects the bed from foot traffic, dogs and bikes year-round. Learn about our custom steel tree guards, and check the NYC Parks requirements before you install anything.

Clean up, but not too much

• Remove diseased foliage, and anything that had mildew or blight, so problems don't overwinter.
• Leave sturdy seed heads (coneflower, black-eyed Susan, ornamental grasses) standing. They feed birds and add winter interest.
• Hold off on heavy pruning of spring-flowering shrubs like lilac, forsythia and azalea. They've already set next year's flower buds.
• Drain and store hoses, and empty saucers under outdoor pots so they don't freeze and crack.

Want it done for you?

Our Garden Services team handles fall cleanups, planting, mulching and container changeovers across the five boroughs. Or stop by 1560 Park Avenue at 111th Street and we'll help you pick plants and supplies for your space. Delivery is available. See delivery options.