Fall is a period of transition for the garden and the gardener. As a part of my personal shift from landscaped acreage to potted patio, I made it through the entire summer with nary a mandatory garden chore. Oh yes, I did water my planters on hot sunny days and I occasionally trimmed back the miniature ivy hanging over the sides of my ceramic pots, but that was simply to avoid going stir-crazy.
Being free and easy, any gardening I did do this season was purely voluntary, not for profit. I helped a friend pick blueberries and ate a large portion of the harvest, considering my scanty efforts. I helped another set of dear friends drastically cut back a gangly rhododendron to give it one last chance to flourish and keep its place in the garden. However, that was not what I consider work. Any chore done with them is worth it for the pleasure of their company.
In the real world, watering and summer upkeep go on as usual. As the season progresses, the gardener turns to fall planting. Empty spaces in the flower border make it clear where we can fit in one more perennial or a group of spring-flowering bulbs. Try sowing the seeds of hardy annuals, too. These will dawdle through the winter months, but some will establish roots by spring and plants will likely emerge early in the season.
Along with planting for spring, this is also an ideal time to begin general garden clean-up in preparation for winter. When spring comes, there are a million and one jobs to tackle. In fall, garden activities seem to slow down. We attune our pace to the season, dragging our feet through piles of leaves and sitting on a bench to catch the last rays of sunlight on our faces.