Even though fall is still far away, we want to ensure you know what to do when the time comes! There’s more to lawn maintenance than just cutting the grass during summer and raking the leaves in autumn. As a matter of fact, the fall months are an ideal time to work in the yard. But it’s not just to keep things looking good year round (though that’s important too), it’s to lay the groundwork for springtime.
Fall is a crucial time for the health of your landscaping, despite the fact that the temperature is dropping and winter is coming up shortly. If you’re a fan of gardening and want your landscape to look beautiful in spring, keep reading. We’ll share a few tips to keep in mind for prepping the lawn and garden for its inevitable bloom.
Prepping Your Landscaping for Fall
- Suppose that, during the spring and summer, your perennials have grown and spread out nicely. But some perennials like Shasta Daisies, Daylilies, and Hostas have a habit of getting a little too big. When that happens, just dig them up, split them in half, put one half back in its original spot and place the other half in a new area. By doing that, you’ll be able to easily start up a new garden.
- Sometimes some shrubbery or parts of the garden can become so healthy that they start to take up too much space. Autumn is an ideal time to move smaller and medium-sized shrubs like Azalea, Spirea, and Rhododendron. These are hardy plants, and when you dig them up and replant them, they’ll settle in nicely and enjoy the cooler temperatures and rains. The added benefit is when you move some shrubs, other plants that were previously blocked will come to prominence and create a new look.
- If you have a green thumb, you know it’s important t spend time in spring to clean things up. Make sure to put in equal time during autumn to rake leaves, edge along the lawn and beds, and cut down perennials. The benefit to this is the fact that you can put down mulch earlier in the spring and have more control over weeds as the growing season shifts into high gear.
- Too many people believe that once autumn hits, it’s okay to let weeding go until springtime. The fact is, weeds will go to seed as the temperature drops, and seeds are spread all over by the wind and birds. The weeds themselves will become dormant during winter, and once springtime rolls around, you’ve got an energetic crop of weeds. Put aside a little time to do some thorough weeding. If you can remove the weeds and their roots, you’re setting yourself up for an easier growing season.
- There’s an old belief that spring is the ideal time to do seeding. As a matter of fact, fall is when seeding truly needs to happen. Since the soil is warm already, and you can expect rain showers, you’re providing the perfect environment for new root growth. All you need to do is thoroughly rake, apply a light mixture of quality fertilizer and nutrient-rich soil, rake in fresh grass seed, and water it well to promote healthy growth.