Fall Garden Chores that Kids Can Help With

“Idle hands are the Devil’s workshop” is a common phrase that many people heard growing up, often at the heels of a loathsome set of chores. Outdated? Perhaps. But nobody likes an unmotivated and lazy coworker – it’s important to teach your kids good values at a young age. 

Many kids groan when they hear of the terms ‘homework’ and ‘chores.’ But at their ages, they still find the garden an enchanting place, so why not take advantage of the magic of autumn and get free child labor, ahem, help them develop a love of nature? During the transition from fall to winter, there are several easy gardening tasks that kids can assist with. 

Here are some tasks that kids can help out with in the fall garden that won’t translate to backbreaking labor. 

 

1. Pulling out Spent Plants 

As an adult, it can be mystifying to understand the eagerness of children and your pet dogs when rooting around in the dirt. Children, unlike prissy teenagers, aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, which makes it convenient to set them to work pulling spent plants. If your child has boundless energy, a good way to keep them busy is having them yank out old garden plants. Even as an adult, pulling up weeds or diseased growth can be a cathartic experience – a way to release pent-up rage. Older children (12+) can use a hori hori knife for minor tasks such as digging small holes, planting bulbs, or loosening compacted soil. 

2. Get Started on the Spring Garden  

The process of curating a selection of crops to grow for spring can be more time-consuming than expected. To save you the time, Vego Garden has selected a collection of organic vegetable seeds, including kid-friendly options such as Organic Purple Magnolia Pea Seeds and Scarlet Nantes Carrot Seeds. These vegetables have been chosen for their desirable traits – famously easy to grow, crisp flavor, and heirloom value. Teaching kids to grow their own plants will give them a sense of excitement and ownership when they see the fruits of their labor on the dinner table. Be sure to check the seed packet for the best time to sow your seeds. In mild climates, sow in fall for harvest in late winter and early spring.

3. Spreading Mulch or Straw 

Many gardeners neglect mulch during the winter, even though failing to add it can lead to a whole host of issues: nutrient leaching, compaction, and weed growth. No matter how lazy your kid is, there are bound to be things that they enjoy. Why not give an easy, often neglected task to your kids and watch them become Bob the Builder? They’ll eagerly set to work, carrying small buckets of mulch or straw as they hop around the garden.

4. Cleaning Garden Tools and Pots 

In the summer, glistening sprinklers beckon, promising a respite from the summer heat. Kids seem to love water, and a simple and satisfying task is cleaning garden tools, pots, and planters. This chore teaches kids to take responsibility for their environment. It also instills a sense of work ethic – after all, nobody likes a sloppy gardener. Kids will love this task even more with a nozzle sprinkler. 

5.  Help with General Chores 

You may scoff at the notion that every little bit helps, but when it comes to the garden, it really does facilitate things. While it’s true that they can’t be expected to dig up an entire butterfly bush, it’s certainly more productive than having them glued to their phones or video games. Little kids can assist with planting seeds, getting tools, and placing weeds in the wheelbarrow. Older kids can take on more advanced tasks that involve their critical thinking skills, like planning out a vegetable patch and tending to it with minimal guidance. 

6. Filling The Compost Bin 

Filling the compost bin is one chore that isn’t even considered a chore, because to kids, it’s basically “throwing things away.” You might have found in a similar fashion tossed-away stuffed animals, potato chip bags, or God forbid, a sticky, half-eaten piece of chocolate. This time, though, they’ll be purposely throwing away kitchen scraps. In return, the waste material crumbles into rich compost, ready to enrich your plants in the spring. If you have reservations regarding traditional composting, consider checking out Vego’s worm composter or the kitchen composter. 

7. Raking Fallen Leaves  

Jumping in leaf piles is one of those things that you glimpse in cartoons and wonder if people actually do it. To the minds of toddlers, jumping in leaf piles can be great fun. Keep in mind that there are risks in jumping in leaves – little creatures like ticks may find them the perfect place to call home. Avoid leaves close to the gutter, which can harbor mold, pests, or bacteria. 

8. Collecting Spent Seedheads 

The best chores are those that don’t feel like chores at all. Spent seedheads, with their papery thinness, stark against the autumn sky, have a certain poetic finality to them. Kids will find satisfaction in harvesting seeds from marigolds, coneflowers, and sunflowers. Collect seeds in a paper envelope or small container and label. Make sure you leave some seedheads intact for birds.