While the pretty colors and crisp air call for spending time outside, it can also mean spending time cleaning up your yard. Many daunting tasks come around this time of year such as raking leaves, and prepping for the winter ahead. Skipping these can lead to unhealthy plants and an unappealing look when the warmer months return.
Here, we’ll share our own fall landscape cleanup checklist to ensure no task is forgotten. This way, your landscape will be ready for its debut in the spring.
Why Fall Landscape Cleanup is Essential
Protecting Plants from Winter Damage
Without proper fall landscape cleanup, your plants won’t even make it to their spring debut. Hence, following the checklist, like getting rid of fallen leaves from flower beds and removing damaged branches, is very important to prevent increased moisture issues that can lead to fungal or pest infestation.
Promoting Spring Growth
Fall is the ideal time to give your plants some TLC by fertilizing them so they get the nutrients they need to bounce back even stronger when the growing season starts again.
Enhancing Curb Appeal Through the Seasons
While fallen leaves can be charming to some extent, letting them pile up and rot can make your landscape look neglected. Regularly raking fallen leaves, pruning dead branches, and cleaning out flower beds are the keys to a well-maintained landscape that improve your curb appeal.
Fall Landscape Cleanup Tasks
Raking and Removing Fallen Leaves
First thing first: rake and remove fallen leaves to prevent them from suffocating the grass and plants around them. It’s really easy to forget this task because they look nice and give you that ‘rustic’ atmosphere like no other season can. However, leaving them piling up, once again, can block sunlight and trap moisture, which can lead to diseases that can wreak havoc on your landscape.
Pruning Dead or Damaged Branches
As the weight of snow or ice can break the plants’ branches, pruning should be the next step on the fall landscape cleanup checklist. However, it is only recommended to do it lightly, as heavy pruning can stress the plants before winter. If you’re still wondering the best answer to ‘When do I prune?’, you can read our article on that or consult with the experts at Eichenlaub.
Cleaning Out Flower Beds and Garden Areas
Fall is also the time to clean out flower beds and garden areas. Remove dead annuals, trim back perennials, and clear away any weeds or debris. These tasks prevent pests from overwintering in your garden and give your plants a fresh start when spring arrives.
Preparing For Winter
Aerating and Fertilizing the Lawn
After you finish your fall landscape cleanup, now is the time to prepare your lawn for the colder months ahead. Start by making holes in your soil that allow water, nutrients, and air to penetrate deeper. Then, when your lawn is done growing (usually after the last mow of the fall season), you can fertilize your soil using a specific winterizer.
Final Lawn Mowing and Edging
Before winter sets in, give your lawn a final mow after you finish with the cleanup. However, keep your grass at around 2 to 2.5 inches to protect it from cold stress and snow mold. Also, don’t forget to edge your garden beds and walkways to prevent grass from encroaching on your flower beds and pathways.
Mulching for Winter Protection
Mulching acts as a natural insulating blanket to protect your soil from frost. Mulches can use organic materials like straw, shredded leaves, or bark mulch or non-organic materials like clear plastic mulch film. Whichever you choose, though, mulching improves your soil by retaining moisture, suppressing weeds, and helping control pests.
Dividing and Transplanting Perennials
As many plants go dormant, fall is the perfect time to divide and transplant perennials. Dividing your perennials is great for filling empty spaces in your landscape and helping overcrowded ones bloom. If you want to move them to further spots, replant those plants you removed with as much root system intact as possible in the same depth they were in before.
Storing Tools and Equipment
Garden Tools Maintenance
If you’re done with your fall landscape cleanup, disconnect your hoses from faucets and drain them completely to prevent freezing and cracking. Once everything is cleaned and prepared, store your hoses, sprinkles, and other irrigation system equipment properly in a dry, frost-free location, like a garage or shed. For extra protection from moisture, hook or place those tools inside a tool rack.
Protecting Outdoor Furniture and Hardscapes
To protect outdoor furniture, such as the sofa around your outdoor fireplace, from the harsh elements, either store it indoors or cover it with weather-resistant covers. This prevents damage from moisture, rust, and freezing temperatures. For hardscapes like patios and walkways, inspect for cracks or damage before winter, as freezing water can make small cracks worse, and seal them to prevent further deterioration.
End Note
Preparing your landscape for winter may feel like a lot of work, but it ensures your plants and outdoor spaces are protected and ready to thrive when spring returns. By following this fall landscape cleanup checklist, you’ll safeguard your lawn, garden, and outdoor features from winter damage and set the stage for vibrant growth in the coming seasons.
Contact Eichenlaub today for expert assistance and ensure no step is overlooked.
