When autumn arrives, the garden begins to slow down. Leaves fall, plants fade, and the soil prepares for its winter rest. For many gardeners, fall cleanup is an essential task—but what you do with all that garden debris makes a big difference in the health of next year’s garden.

Composting turns garden waste into nutrient-rich organic matter that enriches your soil. But not everything belongs in the compost pile. Some materials can harbor pests, diseases, or weed seeds that will cause problems later. Knowing the difference between what to compost and what to discard ensures a healthier, more sustainable garden.

Fall Garden Cleanup Made Easy

As the air turns crisp and the leaves start to fall, your garden shifts into its resting phase. Fall is the perfect time to tidy up, prepare your soil, and set the stage for a healthy growing season next year. But garden cleanup doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated. With a clear plan and a few simple steps, you can wrap up your gardening season with ease—and even give yourself a head start on spring.

This guide walks you step-by-step through fall garden cleanup, helping you decide what goes in the compost and what should go to the trash (or other disposal methods).

Step 1: Gather and Sort Your Garden Debris

Start by collecting what’s left in your garden beds, borders, and lawn. You’ll likely end up with a mix of:

• Spent vegetable plants
• Annual flowers
• Perennials with dead foliage
• Leaves, grass clippings, and twigs
• Weeds that popped up late in the season
• Fruits or vegetables that dropped to the ground

Spread everything out so you can separate materials into two categories: safe to compost and must discard.

Step 2: What You Can Compost

Most garden waste is safe and beneficial for your compost pile. Here are the best candidates:

Healthy Plant Material

• Vegetable plants and annuals: If your tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and other annuals look healthy (no mold, mildew, or pest infestations), compost them. Chop them into smaller pieces to speed up decomposition.
• Perennial cuttings: Trim back hostas, daylilies, and other perennials, then compost the healthy foliage.

Fallen Leaves

• Shredded leaves are one of the best “brown” materials for compost. They add carbon and help balance nitrogen-rich green materials.
• If you have more leaves than your compost can handle, use them as mulch or bag them for future composting.

Grass Clippings

• As long as they are free of herbicides or chemicals, grass clippings provide nitrogen to your compost pile.
• Mix them with dry materials like leaves or straw to prevent matting.

Kitchen Scraps from the Season

• Pumpkins, squash shells, and other vegetable scraps make great compost additions. Break them into smaller chunks to speed up the process.

Step 3: What You Should Not Compost

Certain materials will create more problems than benefits if they end up in your compost bin. These should be trashed or disposed of elsewhere:

Diseased Plants

• Plants showing signs of blight, mildew, rust, or viral infections should not be composted. Home compost piles often don’t reach high enough temperatures to kill pathogens.
• Example: Tomato plants with late blight or squash vines with powdery mildew.

Pest-Infested Plants

• Insects, eggs, or larvae can survive in your compost pile and return next year.
• Example: Brassica plants with cabbage worms or squash vines infested with vine borers.

Weeds with Seeds or Aggressive Roots

• Composting weeds like dandelions, crabgrass, bindweed, or thistle can spread them back into your garden if the seeds or roots survive.
• If you do want to compost weeds, use a hot composting system that consistently reaches 140°F (60°C) or higher.

Treated Grass or Plants

• Grass clippings from lawns treated with herbicides or pesticides can contaminate your compost and harm future plants.

Large Woody Material

• Branches and thick stems break down too slowly in a home compost pile. Instead, chip them for mulch or use them in hugelkultur beds.

Step 4: Best Practices for Composting Garden Waste

To get the most from your compost pile, follow these fall composting tips:

1. Chop before you drop – Cut large stalks or vines into smaller pieces to speed decomposition.
2. Balance greens and browns – Mix nitrogen-rich materials (green leaves, grass, veggie scraps) with carbon-rich materials (shredded leaves, straw, cardboard). Aim for a 2:1 ratio of browns to greens.
3. Keep it moist, not soggy – Water your compost occasionally so it feels like a wrung-out sponge.
4. Turn the pile – Aerate your compost every few weeks to keep it active.
5. Consider a second pile – If you have diseased plants or invasive weeds, keep a separate disposal method so they don’t contaminate your main compost.

Step 5: Alternatives to Trashing

Before you send garden waste to the landfill, consider other eco-friendly options:

• Municipal yard waste collection: Many towns collect leaves and branches and process them into mulch or compost.
• Burning (where legal): Some rural areas allow safe burning of diseased plants, but check local regulations first.
• Solarizing weeds: Seal invasive weeds in a black plastic bag, leave it in the sun for several weeks, and then dispose of them safely.

Final Thoughts

Fall cleanup is more than tidying the garden—it’s about setting the stage for next season. By composting the right materials and discarding problem plants responsibly, you’ll improve your soil health, reduce pests and diseases, and keep your garden thriving year after year.

Think of your compost pile as a recipe: the right ingredients create rich, fertile soil. But just like cooking, using the wrong ingredients can spoil the dish. With a little knowledge and care, your fall cleanup can become an investment in next spring’s garden success.