It may be hot now, but fall will be here before you know it. With the end of summer comes the end of the traditional gardening season, and many homeowners will be preparing for several months of dropping temperatures. How can you be ready when fall arrives? By following these steps, you can maintain a beautiful yard year-round.
Remove Dead Flowers
No matter how well you care for them, many flowers simply won’t make it past a single season. You should remove any dead annuals so that the soil can prepare for the next planting season. Take stock of any dying or diseased larger plants, as well. Fall is an excellent time to remove dead trees or rip up diseased bushes.
Add Nutrients & Protection to Soil
You’ll help your plants make it through the cold season by preparing them early. Fertilize any perennials before the first snap of cold weather. Once you’ve removed dead annuals, you should fertilize the soil where they were planted as well so that it will be ready for next year’s flowers. Don’t forget about your grass– fall is the ideal time to fertilize it as well, and you’ll see the difference through the cold months. Once you’ve replenished the soil, place mulch or pine straw around living plants to help insulate them against the cold.
Save Tender Plants
If you have bulbous plants that don’t tolerate cold weather well, fall is the time to dig them up. They should be placed in a cardboard box with the proper potting mixture and kept inside until things warm back up.
Fill in Bare Spots
Your yard gets a lot of traffic during the summer, and sections like gravel walkways may be in need of a little extra love. Inspect everything for signs of wear and tear, and patch up anything that needs work. This is a good time to fill in low spots in your yard with extra dirt as well.
Get Clean
Lawn furniture, patios, and carports can get pretty dirty over the summer. You should clean all of these with a safe solution that won’t damage paint or any nearby plants. Pressure wash the outside of your home to remove any mildew. Give porches or other outdoor wood a fresh coat of paint. Taking care of all these boring chores now means you’ll have less work when the spring arrives, and you can do more of the fun stuff, like planting new flowers.
Take the time now to get your backyard ready for fall so that when the season arrives, you’ll be good to go!
