As summer is coming to an end, this is a good time to start thinking about fall landscaping chores. Schedule time to take care of these tasks to keep your landscape looking fresh and to prepare it for cooler temperatures.
1. Clean up garden beds
Start by removing debris, fallen leaves, branches, and weeds. You should also consider edging your beds and adding mulch. Remove dead and dying plants, deadhead flowers and remove any plants (especially annuals) that are dying or already dead. And, while you’re at it, cut back your ornamental grasses.
2. Add new plants
Fall is a great time to install new plants as cooler temps are easier for plants to tolerate. An added plus is that insects and pests are less likely to attack your plants as many of them die off or go dormant.
3. Rake leaves
Do not allow leaves to build up on your lawn as they can smother your grass, prevent sunlight from reaching it, allow disease to take hold, and inhibit future growth. You can rake the leaves (and get a great work out!) or use a blower to remove them.
4. Boost your lawn
Fall is a great time to rejuvenate your turf. Aerate, overseed, and apply a starter fertilizer to your lawn in September/October. Late fall winterizing fertilizer should be applied in November.
So, there it is. Keep this list handy so that you don’t forget all the things you need to do to prepare your landscape for winter.
