Fall truly is one of the coolest times of year (no pun intended) – the leaves are vibrant with color, the weather is changing from sweltering hot to crisp and cool; and we are settling into a season of comfort. Fall also happens to be one of the most important times to keep up with lawn and landscape maintenance.
So, what should fall cleanups include?
Aeration. Whether your lawn is in seemingly good health or in obvious need of care, core aeration is an important aspect of routine lawn maintenance, and fall is a great time to do this! One of the most important fall maintenance jobs you can do for your lawn is core aeration. This encourages deep root growth, giving you a thick beautiful lawn in the springAeration also pairs nicely with over-seeding, so take advantage of the temperate fall weather while it’s here!
De-thatching. Unless you have been raking grass clipping (or mulching them) all summer long, thatch may have built up on your lawn. This can cause real problems if left untreated. Be sure that your lawn maintenance crew is dethatching to give your grass a good chance of thriving.
Fertilize. One of the last things on your landscaping crew’s to-do list should be a good fertilizing treatment right before the first frost. This will give your grass the nutrients it needs to survive the cold winter months ahead.
Leaf removal. Your yard needs a good amount of air and sunlight to maintain good health, so be sure to get the fallen leaves off your lawn. Getting leaves off of the grass before winter strikes is important. If leaves are allowed to remain on the ground, they will choke off the grass by reducing water evaporation. Plus, they can harbor mold and fungus, while also allowing insects to infiltrate the grass and ground. In some cases, diseases from the trees can also be transferred to the ground and grass roots, which can kill your lawn.
Weeding: fall is the perfect time to get rid of those weeds. Tackling weeds now will help make spring work much easier.
Trim up shrubs and trees. Diseased or old and brittle branches often don’t survive the winter, instead breaking off and falling onto your lawn. This can be dangerous for residents, and pose a potential risk to your home as well (especially roofs!). Pruning dead and diseased shrubs and trees will not only will it keep your shrubs and trees looking good, but it will also keep them healthier. Be sure you handle dead branches before a chill sets in, and if the job is too big or too dangerous for you, our experts can always help!
Do some mulching. Young greenery is at quite a bit of risk for the first couple winters they encounter. Laying down a fresh bed of mulch before the chill of winter sets in can insulate them against the cold, and to fight off soil erosion and water runoff problems throughout the season.
Planting spring bulbs. Fall is the perfect time to plant flowers like tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, daylilies, and dahlias.
A “last time” mow. When you’re sure your grass has finished growing for the year, give it one last good mow. This helps to keep your landscape free of catching fallen leaves, and makes the cleanup as the season progresses far easier. It also helps mitigate the risk of disease taking root in fall and contaminating your grass’ roots.
The Benefits of Fall Cleanups:
- Keep your yard looking nice.The landscaping around your home is important to you, and you want your investment to look nice year-round. Doing upkeep in the fall will help make sure your lawn doesn’t have dead patches and that your beds are ready to flourish when spring returns.
- Lessen your workload next spring.Sure, snow will eventually cover up leaves and debris, but it won’t remove them for you. All of that debris will still be there waiting for you next spring and if it has been sitting on your lawn all winter, dead spots can be expected.
- Eliminate the potential for harboring unwanted plant diseases.Fallen leaves and yard debris breed different bacteria and mold that are hard on plants. In addition, this debris can also contain and protect fungus spores and bacteria that can be harmful and potentially fatal to plants. Keeping your landscape and lawn clean will help maintain the quality of your yard for next year.
- Reduce the potential for harboring wintering insects and pests.Many kinds of invasive insects spend their winter underground and in the shelter of fallen leaves and debris that have collected at the base of plants. These piles of leaves and debris create a nice, warm place for them to hide, so doing fall clean ups helps slim down the chance of keeping unwanted pests around for next year.
How do you get started?
Getting started with fall clean ups is easy! Contact us and we can talk more about what you’re looking for specifically. We’ll do all the yard work so you can spend your time doing more of the things that you like to do.