With the fall season coming fast, it’s time to start preparing your lawn for cooler weather. If you live in an area with harsh winters, you’ll want to make sure your outdoor space is ready to withstand low temperatures and lots of cold precipitation. Here are a few things you can do to prepare your home landscape for fall.
- Clean It Up
When preparing your landscape for fall, the first thing you’ll want to do is get rid of any dead foliage and debris. Plants, twigs, large branches, and leaves should all be removed to give your lawn a nice clean base for growth when spring comes. Don’t be afraid to cut back grass, bushes, tree branches, and dead annuals or perennials. Then, keep raking those leaves up all autumn long!
- Mow
You’re probably tired of mowing the lawn after the summer growing season, but you’ll have to do it one last time before winter. Set the cutting height at about 2-2.5 inches. This will help your lawn grow nice and thick when the weather warms up again.
- Mulch
Fall is a great time to lay a fresh layer of mulch around the yard. You can use various mulch types, like bark, sawdust, compost, or even shredded leaves. Spread your chosen mulch around the bases of your trees, shrubs, and other plants in layers two or three inches thick. This mulch will give your plants extended nutrients during the winter and will serve to insulate the soil and roots and prevent it from freezing or frosting over. Additionally, mulch will help your plants keep in moisture.
Consult with professional landscapers if you’re not sure what type of mulch is best for your landscaping needs this fall.
- Plant
Contrary to popular belief, fall is actually a great time to plant new trees and shrubs. With the soil still warm from the retained summer heat and the air cooling down, roots are stimulated to grow deeper into the ground, giving your new plants a great foundation for more growth in the springtime. This root growth will happen all season long so that by wintertime when the ground freezes, the roots are already well established and feeding the rest of the plant nutrients from the soil. There are even autumn flowers and winter trees that will thrive during these cooler months.
- Clean the House
You can save the interior of your house for spring cleaning, but a good cleaning of the exterior is a perfect activity for fall. Pay attention to the windows and siding and remove any mold, algae, or debris with warm water, soap, and sponge. For resistant staining, you may opt for a pressure washer as your cleaning tool. Next, make sure to clean out the gutters to allow full drainage of upcoming wet weather. If you have trees that hang over the house, you’ll need to clean out the gutters throughout the fall season to prevent winter ice dams.
If you’re ready to get your home landscape autumn-ready, the experts at Lola’s Landscape are ready to help! Whether you’re looking for tips, advice, or service, our landscaping professionals are ready to
