Psst! Want to know a secret? I may or may not have had a sneak preview of Garden Media’s 2026 Garden Trends report, and we’re all seeking to slow things down, reconnect with Nature and each other, and keep things simple.

Luckily, I’ve just received a copy of Linda Vater’s A Year of Garden-Inspired Living: Season by Season. This book is a phenomenal guide to finding joy in the home and garden every day and cultivating intention throughout the year. You don’t have to wait until 2026 to get in on this trend; let’s get started now with some of Vater’s top tips for celebrating the fall garden.

Using Rotted Pumpkins in Container Gardens

Pumpkins always look fantastic when you first put them out on the front porch, but they soften quickly thanks to those cold nighttime temperatures. Once the critters get involved, there’s no turning back, and you’re often left with a gourd that’s turned to mush or caved in on itself. Spooky, right? Keeping pumpkins out of the landfill after Halloween is essential, and there are many ways to do so. Vater recommends dropping rotting pumpkins into the bottom of large garden containers; this will significantly reduce the amount of potting soil you’ll need and handle spot composting for evergreens or boxwoods you might want to plant for the winter. Filling containers with less money and reducing waste? Sign us up!

Make Fall Garden Bouquets with Weeds and Flowers

I love having a bouquet on my counter throughout the seasons, but buying blooms at a local shop or weekly farmer’s market can be pricey. Why not take a look at what you have available in the garden this time of year? My daughter loves creating her own bouquets for my kitchen; she collects whatever is seasonally available, and that includes some pretty-looking weeds! The result is a rustic, earthy display that is entirely homegrown (AKA, free!). Vater’s all about collecting weeds and wild flowers for bouquets, but recommends making sure you’re not allergic to anything you bring into the house.

Homegrown Garden Gifts

Whether for a birthday, the holidays, or to show someone you care, offering gifts from the garden is affordable and sentimental. If you have loved ones who live far away, mailing them seeds native to your area is a fun way to introduce them to new plant varieties. Check their agricultural zone to make sure whatever you send can survive the local weather conditions. You can also organize a plant exchange with local gardeners to expand the variety in your own garden. Split some hostas and offer them to a friend in exchange for some Jerusalem artichoke. You’ll think of one another when the divisions take off in their new homes.

Prepare a Travelling Foraging Kit

I have a confession to make: I always have a shovel in the trunk of my car in case I find something I want growing on the side of the road (looking at you, lupins!). It embarrasses the hell out of my kids, but who cares? In her book, Vater suggests creating a foraging kit to keep in the car for when those special surprises pop up. She recommends filling it with pruners, bags, a packet knife, seed envelopes, and garden gloves. Don’t forget the spade! And most importantly, make sure to forage responsibly and avoid taking from land you shouldn’t be on.

Build a Secret Garden

No matter what kind of space you have, there’s a spot for a garden. Look around your property or balcony and find barren spaces that leave something to be desired. Then, consider how you can jazz the space up with plants! I built an herb spiral on an unused portion of land beside my driveway and dug up wild fiddlehead ferns (with that spade I was talking about!) to create a lush garden in a super shady spot of my yard. The spaces for your main edible or flower gardens might be obvious, but many neglected areas can be transformed into little pieces of paradise, too, whether it’s with a raised bed, terracotta or vertical planters, a trellis, or a fountain.