Preparing your yard for the cooler months can be overwhelming. There are so many suggestions, it can be hard to know where to begin. From gutters to mulch, there are so many tasks to winterize your landscape that you could be busy all winter. However, some are more vital than others. It’s a great idea to take advantage of the cooler weather to tackle some yard tasks that require a bit of time. You can improve your landscape during the fall months while maintaining the necessary winterizing to keep your home healthy.
Hawkins Landscape Architecture
Aerate and Fertilize
Fall is the best time to aerate and fertilize your lawn. An aerator pokes small holes in your lawn so that air, water, and fertilizer reach the grass’s roots. This will get rid of any lawn compaction and debris lodged under the surface. If you have a new home, it is especially important to aerate. Once you have aerated your lawn, it’s a great idea to fertilize to keep your grass growing over the fall months. Do some research to find what fertilizer is best for your type of grass and climate.
Fill Low Spots
Fill any low spots that have formed near your home’s foundation. To repair a low spot, remove the grass with a shovel and fill the spot with soil mix. Be sure to water and fertilize directly after. You always want to slope your lawn away from the home so that you can avoid any water leaking into your basement. A flat lawn will avoid pooling water that kills your lawn and attracts insects. You will find tons of lawn improvement ideas at Modernize.com.
Prune Your Plants
Prune your plants once they become dormant or no longer produce fruits or flowers. Pruning encourages new growth, so wait until your plants stop producing naturally before your final pruning. Clip off all of the lower growth near the stem. Remove any unruly sprouts so your plant will grow in a nice shape next season. Be sure you cut less than ¼ inch from the main branch so that disease cannot enter the raw opening.Give large bushes and trees special attention. These larger plants tend to overwhelm the landscape in the winter months, quickly making the yard look disheveled.
Add in Fall Accent Plants
There are many beautiful colors associated with fall. Burnt oranges, yellows, reds, and deep greens are favorites. Find a few plants to accent your yard with the vibrant colors of fall. Pansies grow for up to six months a year and can be found in fabulous deep reds and oranges. They are low to the ground and make a great fall accent. English primrose makes an excellent hanging plant for porches, adding deep yellow to your landscape.
Get Rid of Weeds
You can’t see it, but the fall months are the time when your lawn’s root system is expanding the most. It’s important to clear out space underground so that the systems can grow and blossom in the spring. There may not be much happening above ground, but everything underneath is developing. Weeding is tedious work, but it is much better to get it done during the cool season, clearing out room for growth in your yard, than to allow weed roots to grow all winter alongside your grass. By the time the grass sprouts in spring, the weeds will have a strong foothold and will be much tougher to remove.
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