Fall Garden and Landscape Maintenance Tips
As the end of summer approaches, the growing season comes to an
end. But don’t put your garden and lawn care tools away just
yet. This is a good time to scrutinize your garden and yard for
landscape maintenance purposes.
 |
Providing fall preparations for next year’s growing season will
help ensure a graceful entry into the following spring, with a green
lawn and garden space nearly ready for planting. Just follow the helpful
tips below:
- Don’t wait until spring for garden preparation, and to
divide your overgrown perennials; do it now. This not only provides
a jump start for quicker blooms, but healthier blooms, as well.
- Move potted patio and hanging plants indoors, or bury the pots
in the ground in regions with less intense winters so that plants
will survive.
- Slugs breed in the fall. If slugs are a big problem for your
garden, this is a good time to set out traps, but only if absolutely
necessary. Beneficial bugs and small creatures will also be put
at risk. You can make a slug trap by filling an empty (unwashed)
tuna tin with beer. Place the tin in a shady spot in the soil
so that the rim is at ground level. Maintain the trap every few
days by emptying it out and refilling it.
- Because trees and shrubs continue to lose moisture in the winter,
this is a good time to give them a watering boost. Part of your
landscape maintenance should be to deeply water trees and shrubs
before hard frosts begin.
-
If you have flowering shrubs, some of them might need fall pruning.
Spring-flowering shrubs begin to develop flower buds that won’t
open until the following spring. These type shrubs should be pruned
early; immediately after flowering. Pruning them too late risks
removal of developing buds for next year’s flowering season.
Summer-flowering shrubs, however, develop buds during the early
spring. The best time to prune them is during the dormant season;
just as fall turns to winter or late winter is fine.
- Clean woody debris and fallen leaves out of ponds.
- Rake leaves off your yard. Apply a thin layer of well-aged manure
to the lawn to promote new spring growth and improve underlying
soil.
- As part of garden preparation for the following spring, use
the leaves raked up from your lawn as mulch for flower beds. Not
only will tender perennials be protected through the winter, but
the decaying leaves will help build soil nutrients. Dry, excess
leaves can be bagged in airtight bags to add to compost piles
later.
- Planting a cover crop, such as clover or annual rye grass, in
bare flower beds or vegetable gardens will help improve the soil
for next years planting. This can be done by preparing the bed
or garden area after the final harvest, early enough to allow
growing time. First, enrich the soil with compost or well-aged
manure; then seed with the cover crop. In the spring, a few weeks
before planting season, till the plants under.
If you haven’t the time for fall garden and landscape maintenance
work yourself, acquire the services of a professional landscaper.
Select a reliable garden and landscape design and maintenance expert.
One with just the right lawn care tools and know-how to keep your
yard in tip-top shape.
By taking the time in the fall for garden and lawn maintenance,
you will reap rewards the following spring. With healthier, greener
yards, and robust garden growth your neighbors are sure to envy!
|
