Fall Landscaping Tips

Getting your landscape ready for fall and winter might not be high on your to-do list. However, getting a few elements right will mean the landscape is more ready for spring and summer! Here are a few fall landscaping tips you can do around the garden during this season.

 

Rake up your leaves and use them for mulch

Leaves during fall are so pretty with all the orange and red tones, but did you know that they make the perfect low-cost mulch to use around your shrubs and trees? We’d recommend shredding up the fallen leaves to encourage good composition. After you’ve done this, simply place around some of your plants and trees to keep moisture levels constant. 

Aerate and reseed your lawn

Aerating your lawn in the fall is one of the best things you can do to get the most luscious and healthy grass. Grass roots need water, air, and nutrients to grow healthily, but sometimes soil can get overly compacted which inhibits the movement of these essentials. Aeration basically creates holes that can help the grass ‘breathe’.  Along with aeration, it’s a good time to reseed your lawn to help with patchy or stressed grassy areas. 

Give hardscapes some TLC

One of the best fall landscaping tips we can give is to make sure your hardscapes get taken care of. Fall is a good time to inspect all your hard surfaces and check for any cracks or areas that need more care. You’ll have time to apply sealant and also pressure wash surfaces to remove any algae, mildew, or mold.

Divide and prune perennials

Perennials are great in our landscapes as they provide beauty and color each year. The problem is when they start to grow large and can become overcrowded. They will begin competing for nutrients and root space. This is why we recommend dividing your perennials to get the very best out of them. Wait until after a rain, when the soil is a bit easier to work with, and divide your perennials with a garden fork. Work gently with the roots to avoid major shock when you replant them. 

Along with this, you can also prune back your perennials to encourage bushy growth. Think about cutting off any spent flowers or dead-looking sections so the plant can focus its energy on the healthy sections. 

Protect young trees

Our last fall landscaping to is to protect your newly growing trees. Young or newly planted trees that are particularly vulnerable to colder temperatures and frost. You can protect them from the harsh winter environment by wrapping the trunks in commercial tree wrap. Fall landscaping is more about preparation for the seasons ahead, whilst still enjoying those awesome orangey tones.

Remove any weeds

Weeds are a real eye-sore and are worth removing before they set down any seeds and overwinter.

If you need assistance with any of these landscaping maintenance tasks be sure to get in contact with the team here at American Gardens.