As summer comes to an end, most assume that aside from leaf cleanup, work in the yard is usually done until spring. While October, November and December are months of limited plant growth, it is a time of recovery and there are many things you can do to prepare your yard for next year’s season of growth.
1. Tame your Landscape– Although the fall is a time where several plants hibernate, it’s most certainly a time where you should not abandon your soil and landscape. To prepare your soil for next spring, use a steel rake and ruffle up mulch so that water can sink deep into the subsoil. This can improve the quality of your soil for the next spring. As you clean your yard, removing leaves, branches and other debris, you might find empty gaps where you’d like to fill in with various plants. Although the season for annuals has come to an end, autumn is a great time to plant trees, bushes, shrubs and hardy perennials. By strengthening the quality of your soil, and planting before cold temperatures, you’ll find that new growth will be easier the following spring. Also, be sure to avoid pruning any new plant growth as pruning before freezing temperatures can hurt many bushes, plants and flowers.
2. Get your Grasses Growing– Lush green grass comes with April showers; though, the best time to plant seed and manage sod is during the fall. Before planting, take a rake and scrape the area you plan to seed to eliminate dead grasses (This opens up areas for new seeds to grow). The greatest seeds to plant during this time of year are shade grasses such as fescue and rye.Try to plant these seeds before mid-November so that the root systems can strengthen themselves before freezing temperatures become common. For those who plant sod, October is also a great time to apply fertilizer, preferably a slow release, all natural supplement.
3. Fill your Bird Feeders- Birds help prepare your yard for the spring. By filling your bird feeders and enticing birds to your yard during the course of the fall and winter, you can keep your insect population from getting out of control the next year. While birds love seed, they also love insects and larvae so there’s no excuse as to why you shouldn’t invite them into your yard during this time of year!
4. Don’t Rake Everything– There’s nothing like a clean lawn in the fall, or seeing how fresh and new a leaf-free lawn looks when it buds in the spring; though, in order to get the most out of your yard, it’s best to avoid raking leaves elsewhere, especially flower beds. During this time of year, it’s a great idea to spread compost over flower beds and vegetable gardens before leaves start collecting. Leaves and compost will not only add beneficial nutrients to the soil, leaves will also help protect sensitive plants and root systems that are shallow in your flower beds. Those who really desire a barren flower bed shouldn’t worry though, as leaves should be raked out and cleared by mid to late March.
Prepping your yard for fall makes not only a more pleasant view throughout the winter months, but also makes for an easier and more enjoyable spring. By following these few steps, your yard will flourish from the results next spring!