Essential Fall Tips for a Stunning Lawn and Landscape

1. Assess the Current State

Before you take any action, you need to start by having a look at the current state of your lawn. Over summer, some of the most common issues that come up include diseases, bugs, and even extreme drought. You may be faced with just one of these issues or a combination of a few.

2. Raking and Leaf Removal

Next, remember that if you allow too many leaves to accumulate on your lawn and landscape, the grass underneath could suffocate. This can make the grass rot and also will also provide shelter to pests. Make sure to use the right rake based on the type and amount of leaves you have. Once you're done, you could either start a compost pile or mulch the leaves and place them around young shrubs and trees. Alternatively, dispose of the leaves you rake by collecting them in a bag.

3. Aeration and Overseeding

The next step after this is to aerate the soil either manually using an aerator or make use of soil additives like peat moss and perlite. When you do this, you'll make it easier for your lawn to absorb nutrients and allow for easier water penetration. Overseeding, on the other hand, can help you fill out your lawn and make sure that it grows lush and healthy.



4. Fertilization and Soil Amendments



So that you give your lawn the chance to grow healthy and appealing, add fertilizer and make use of other soil amendments. It's important to do this before winter sets in because you'll make it easier for your lawn to green in time for spring. Fertilizing helps you make sure that your lawn has a constant flow of nitrogen that's released slowly throughout winter and result in an earlier green-up in spring.

5. Pruning and Trimming

Pruning gets rid of plant parts that are injured, diseased, or dead. When you do this, one of the benefits is that you lower the potential for opportunistic or secondary pests attacking your greenery. With the ensuing improved air circulation and good growth patterns, you can improve the appearance of your lawn quite easily. You'll also keep your landscape looking neat and organized.

6. Pest and Weed Control

During the fall, it gets easy for pests to infest your lawn and landscape as they seek shelter from the cold. Weeds can also take over as they start to seed and spread. Keep both weeds and pests in check using eco-friendly pest and weed management. Depending on the specific pests and weeds you want to control, some green solutions are salt and water, vinegar, boiling water, and even dish soap and water.

7. Watering Guidelines

During the fall, it's important to note that you have to adjust your watering schedule. As the weather gets colder, it's best to gradually reduce your frequency of watering so that you don't overwater. If the weather in your area doesn't reach freezing temperatures and there's little precipitation, you can actually keep watering throughout.



Read about how to determine plant is dead:

8. Prepare for Winter

Remember to winterize your landscape by taking steps like covering your garden beds and protecting any sensitive plants that could be damaged by freezing. Disconnect your sprinklers, drain them, and store them so that they're safe for use when the weather gets warmer.

9. Tools and Equipment Care

Your gardening tools should be cleaned thoroughly and stored properly during the off-season. This may involve oiling them and wrapping up some of the delicate ones so that you can whip them out in spring in great shape.

Conclusion

Once you assess your lawn and then rake fallen leaves, aerating and fertilizing will provide your lawn with the health boost it needs. Prune and control weeds and pests as you watch out to make sure you don't overwater. Once you winterize your landscape, you can sit back and enjoy the results of your hard work throughout the fall and into the next growing season. Let us know in the comments if you have any unique landscape fall tips, or if there are any residential or commercial landscaping tips that you've heard about for the first time here!