As summer comes to a close, it’s time to start thinking about your fall landscaping chores. Schedule time to take care of these tasks to keep your landscape looking fresh and to prepare it for cooler temperatures.
Okay, it’s time to get to work! Grab your tools and check out this list of fall landscaping tips to help you prepare your yard for winter.
If you have potted plants that don’t do well during colder weather, be sure to bring them inside!
Deadhead spent flowers and remove any plants (especially annuals) that are dying or already dead. And, while you’re at it, cut back your ornamental grasses, too as a part of your fall landscaping.
Mulch now to protect any new plantings or divided perennials to protect them from cold, and allow them to develop their root system safely. You can cover garden beds with 3-4 inches of mulch. Mulched soil stays warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, thereby protecting the root systems of plants, shrubs, and trees.
Pull the mulch slightly away from the bottom of shrubs and from any trees. Don’t pile mulch up next to a tree trunk, as it can cause moisture to build up. That in turn provides a breeding ground for insect pests, disease, and even decay.
Fall is also an ideal time to divide your perennials. If you have a native perennial garden, be sure to leave some of the perennials undisturbed, so the birds and beneficial insects have food to eat and a safe place to stay for the winter. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has some good tips on when to cut back perennials. Some should be cut back in fall, some cut back in spring, and some shouldn’t be cut back at all.
Dividing perennials is a different matter. The University of Maryland Extension has some great tips on how to do it successfully. We like to think of these types of perennials as the gift that keeps on giving. Dividing them prevents overcrowding, and also allows you to add color next year to an area that was bare this last summer. Check out our fall gardening guide to learn more!
Now is also the time to replace the tired and dried out summer annuals with chrysanthemums, celosia, pansies, and ornamental kale. Do this after you have divided perennials, if you are doing that. Feel free to place some pumpkins and gourds in your planting beds as well, or decorate your walkways and entryway.
For more ideas in this area, check out one of our blog posts that discuss the full range of fall landscape planting possibilities.
Plant bulbs in the fall time so that you’ll have beautiful flowers in spring! Some popular bulbs you might enjoy in your yard include:
Evergreens will stay green all year round but you can give them a boost by watering them in the fall and adding dormant oil to protect them in the winter from harsh winds and colder temperatures. This will keep them from drying out.
Don’t forget routine landscape maintenance such as weeding and pruning. Pull weeds as they appear, to keep them from overrunning a garden bed or other area.
Prune any dead branches from trees or shrubs. In general, don’t do major pruning in late fall, because any new growth may not survive the winter. Any major pruning should wait until winter when the shrub is dormant in winter.
And don’t forget the turfgrass. If you already have a lawn care service, they should take care of things for you. Otherwise, keep mowing until the first hard frost, which is when your grass stops growing.
Rake up fallen leaves frequently to keep them from building up on your lawn and killing the grass. Raking helps reduce thatch in your lawn, while leaf blowers don’t. Plus, when you rake leaves, it counts as exercise!
Fertilize/winterize. Fall is probably the most important time to fertilize if you want a healthy lawn. It gives your grass plenty of nutrients to get through the winter and get off to a strong start in the spring.
Check out our post to learn more about fall lawn care.
It’s time to put away all your outdoor maintenance equipment, like hoses, sprinklers, weed eaters, trimmers, and your lawnmower. Clean them before you store them for the winter and be sure to add fuel stabilizer to your gas-powered equipment.
Water left in plumbing lines can freeze and cause pipes to burst. Avoid possible damage (and a big headache!) by removing hoses and splitters from outdoor spigots and turn them off so that water doesn’t get trapped inside. You should also blow out irrigation lines to remove all water. Remember to turn off the water source for sinks and drain all the water out in your outdoor kitchens, too. As an added measure, you can put an insulated cover on your outdoor spigot.
Gutters can get clogged over time by leaves and other debris. Clean them out so that rainwater can flow easily through the gutters and downspouts. Otherwise, you might end up with damaged gutters and the costly expense of replacing them.
If all the raking, weeding, planting, mulching, bending, and stooping doesn’t sound like much fun to you, consider hiring a professional lawn care service for:
If you’re looking at your yard thinking, “Uh, where do I even start?” —don’t sweat it. That’s where we come in. Here at LiveWell Outdoors, we’re all about making your backyard dreams a reality.
Schedule a consultation today, and let’s talk about how we can turn your outdoor space into something extraordinary.
