It’s Time For Fall Yard Maintenance!
When the days start to grow shorter and people start buying school supplies, it’s a good time to think about starting to prepare your yard for winter. It may seem as though the garden is just starting to produce and you just got that grass going, but the seasons come, and the seasons go. Most people have a fall “to-do” list for their yards; here is a very simple and basic list:
- Trim trees and remove dead branches; check for branches that may break and fall on the house in a storm.
- Prune back trees, plants, and bushes.
- Cover lawn equipment or move indoors. Move all metal equipment and tools indoors. In rainy climates, equipment with metal (other than stainless steel) will rust even when covered. This, of course, includes your patio furniture. Close up awning or patio umbrellas; store.
- Clean gutters and check that your downspouts are all attached.
- Dig up flower bulbs, such as dahlias, and store in a cool dry place.
- Plant bulbs that will bloom in early spring.
- Cut and your winterize your lawn with a fertilizer that will promote root growth during the winter months.
- Cover weed-prone planting beds with newspaper and spread mulch or woodchips over them. The newspaper will compost in the spring and you won’t need to worry about removing it.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it’s a place to start. Some people are very methodical about fall yard care, and put their yards in order in a steady, methodical way, doing one small garden chore regularly, every week, every month, every year, etc. Other people do a massive, clean-up and prep of their entire yard in a day-and-a-half whirlwind, then spend several days recuperating. And some people – call us!
