Fall Landscaping Tips: How to Get Your Yard Ready for Winter
- Posted by livewell in Landscaping Tips, Winter
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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 11 fall landscaping tips to help you prepare your yard for winter.
1. Bring delicate potted plants inside
If you have potted plants that don’t do well during colder weather, be sure to bring them inside!
2. Clean up garden beds
Start by removing debris, fallen leaves and branches, and weeds. You should also consider edging your beds and adding a dusting a mulch (or simply rake the mulch over) to give your beds a clean, neat look.
3. Remove dead and dying plants
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.
4. Add new plants
Fall is a great time to install new plants as cooler temps are easier for plants (and gardeners!) 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.
5. Plant bulbs
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:
- Crocuses
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Hyacinths
6. 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.
7. 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. Look for a late fall winterizing fertilizer and apply in November.
8. Protect evergreen trees
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.
9. Winterize water lines
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.
10. Put away summer equipment
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.
11. Clean your gutters
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.
So, there you have it. Keep this list handy so that you don’t forget all the things you need to do to prepare your landscape for winter.
