Fall Yard Work Tips and Tricks!
As the summer season comes to a close, it might seem like you're off the hook for lawn care until after winter. However, it's essential to recognize that autumn is actually the perfect time to prepare your lawn for the upcoming chilly months. Investing time in cleaning up your yard during the fall will yield a lush, green lawn when spring arrives.
So, what does your yard need right now to look its best next year? Follow our fall yard cleanup guide for all the necessary tasks.
**8 Simple Autumn Yardwork Tasks to Complete Before Winter**
1. **Clear Away Debris**
Organic debris such as leaves and weeds can become a haven for pests like mice and groundhogs. As your trees shed their leaves, regular raking to remove dead leaves and debris is essential to prevent them from smothering the grass and hindering growth. Moreover, excess debris can impair your yard's drainage, leading to issues when the snow melts.
Here are some tips for managing leaf piles:
- Utilize a Tarp: Gather all your leaves onto a tarp for easier disposal to the curb or compost pile.
- Rake into Rows: If you plan to bag your leaves, it's more efficient to rake them into rows rather than piles.
- Use Leaves as Lawn Fertilizer: Before snowfall, run your lawnmower over the fallen leaves to shred them into tiny flakes, which will decompose and act as natural fertilizer.
Unsure about what to do with all the natural debris? Learn how to properly dispose of leaves and yard waste.
2. **Remove Dead Shrubs and Trees**
Now that summer has passed, it's a good time to inspect your yard for shrubs that didn't thrive as expected. Check for signs of life by scratching the bark at the base. If you don't find any green underneath, the shrub might be dead. In such cases, it's best to remove it before the ground freezes. The fall season is also ideal for planting new trees and shrubs to maximize growth.
Tips for handling dead plants:
- Prune during the dormant season, when leaves have fallen, for easier handling.
- Don't rush your fall yard cleanup; take it one step at a time.
- Consider renting a dumpster for disposing of large yard debris during a full landscaping overhaul.
3. **Continue Mowing**
Fall yardwork aims to strengthen your lawn for the harsh winter ahead. Continue watering and mowing as needed. Towards the end of the season, lower your mower's blades for the last two cuts to allow more sunlight to reach the grass crown and promote faster spring soil drying.
Pro Tip: Only mow if your grass is still growing. When daytime temperatures consistently drop below 50 degrees, you can store your mower for the season.
4. **Aerate the Lawn**
Aeration helps remove thatch, alleviate soil compaction, and improve overall grass health. Fall is the best time for this, as it allows grass to recover and fill open areas more quickly after soil plugs are removed. You can rent a gas-powered aerator from a hardware store or use spiked lawn aerator shoes for smaller lawns.
Pro Tip: Aerate and seed your lawn early in the fall with cool-weather grass seed for optimal results.
5. **Apply Fertilizer**
Fall's cooler temperatures and morning dew create ideal conditions for fertilizing your lawn, helping it develop a robust root system over winter and ensuring a vibrant lawn in spring. Watering after fertilizing is optional but recommended to activate the fertilizer.
6. **Mulch Around Plants and Trees**
Mulching around plants provides several benefits, including preventing soil erosion and suppressing weed growth. Apply a 2 to 3-inch layer of mulch to perennials and cool-weather annuals to keep them healthy during winter. Mulching in the fall also eliminates spring weed growth.
Pro Tip: Save money by using organic mulches like pine needles, straw, sawdust, fallen leaves, and grass clippings to enrich the soil.
7. **Address Bald Spots**
If your lawn has bare patches, fall is an ideal time to address them. Use an all-in-one lawn repair mixture from a home improvement or lawn care store, typically containing grass seed, fertilizer, and organic mulch.
8. **Garden Maintenance**
Taking care of your garden in the fall sets the stage for successful planting in the spring. Remove weeds and debris before the cold sets in to prevent pests and diseases during the winter. Keep your garden plants well-watered, and consider trimming perennial vegetables and herbs back a few inches once the ground freezes.
With our fall yard cleanup checklist completed, you can now focus on other outdoor tasks to prepare your home for the upcoming winter weather.
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