{
  "id": 10437721,
  "title": "3 expert-approved tasks you must do in October to get your yard ready for fall",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/3-expert-approved-tasks-you-must-do-in-october-to-get-your-yard-ready",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-28T11:40:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Tom's Guide",
    "slug": "tom-s-guide",
    "url": "https://www.tomsguide.com/home/lawn-care/3-expert-approved-tasks-you-must-do-in-october-to-get-your-yard-ready-for-fall"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As autumn arrives, it's crucial to take specific actions to safeguard your yard from the impending harsh weather. These steps will help shield plants from potential early frosts and minimize the risk of weather damage. Here are three essential tasks recommended by experts for October to get your yard ready for the upcoming fall.\n\nFirstly, rake and dispose of fallen leaves. With leaves starting to accumulate in gardens and around plants, Craig Wilson, Co-founder and in-house gardening expert at Gardeners Dream, advises swiftly gathering them up. Rake the leaves and place them in a compost bin. The resulting leaf mould can be utilized as mulch to provide insulation for borders, protecting plant roots from unforeseen early frost before winter sets in.\n\nSecondly, ensure your outdoor storage, such as sheds, is watertight. Torrential rain and strong winds have already caused damage on the East Coast, including power outages and flooding. Before any significant harm occurs, make sure that any storage area is fully protected against water infiltration. This will prevent rusty or damaged tools and protect your furniture from water damage, preserving your investment and ensuring the longevity of your possessions.\n\nLastly, transition tomato plants indoors and elevate pumpkins for optimum growth. With the onset of cooler temperatures, it's time to relocate any tomato and pepper plants inside to ripen. Moreover, if you plan to harvest pumpkins for Halloween, ensure they are raised off the ground on bricks or wood. This will safeguard the pumpkins from rotting due to damp and provide them with additional sunlight, strengthening the skin and ensuring a longer-lasting, attractive display.",
  "summary": "Gardening expert reveals the crucial things you need to do now to prepare your yard for fall.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}