With the cold months approaching, make sure that you’re doing all of the landscaping maintenance that needs to be done. Your yard with thank you for it later on.
In Part 1 of this post we provided some significant October dates to keep in mind, as well as recommended care for trees and shrubs, ornamental grasses, and perennials. (Click here to read Part 1.)
MN Fall Lawn Care
- Leaves need to be raked. If leaves are left on your lawn, issues such as fungus and mold can happen due to smothering. As an alternative, you can use a mulching mower to turn those leaves into natural feed for your lawn.
- Think about having your lawn aerated. Lawn aeration allows for better movement of fertilizer, air, and water which healthy turf is stimulated. Grass clippings’ composition speed is increased by aerating and deep root growth is enhanced. Core aerating especially benefits compacted soil.
- It is a good idea to fertilize your yard or try a “weed and feed” type light pre-emergent herbicide to receive utmost growth come next spring. However, be careful not to overdo it due to herbicide and fertilizer being able to wash off your grass – the excess can be hazardous to wildlife and water supplies.
- Now is the time to evaluate your lawn and how much water had to be used to keep it green this year. Have a consultation with a landscape architect about ways to create a more functional, sustainable, and attractive landscape with less water use.
Landscape Maintenance: Considerations of Fall Weather
As the weather gets cooler and days get shorter, keep a close eye on how much precipitation you are getting. Fall can have times that are extremes of cold and hot, wet and dry. Be watchful.
- If there are a couple of days of heavy rain, turn your sprinklers off for approximately a week.
- If there are several days of sunny and warm weather, your lawn, trees, and other landscaping plants will be happy to receive an extra drink from you.
Other Fall Landscaping Tasks
- Drain and disconnect all hoses, but keep one accessible for watering in winter. For added protection, place insulated covers or insulation over exterior faucets.
- If you haven’t winterized your pool and outdoor kitchen, take care of things now. It’s also a good time to winterize your mower.
- Collecting seed: allow seed heads on plants to dry by stopping deadheading later on in the year. Dried seeds can then be collected for planting next spring. Store in a container without a seal which is airtight and in a cool, dark place. An example would be an envelope. You can leave the seeds on the plant and perennials will naturally re-seed themselves instead, as another option. Or simply leave them there as nature’s bird feeders.
- It is time to start next year’s landscape design changes. The best time to get your plans together is this fall – then you’ll be prepared for spring installation. Get ready now; time goes fast and spring will be here in no time.
Architectural Landscape Design can assist you in creating and installing a yard of your dreams. As a licensed MN landscape design and installation contractor, we’ll work with you to plan that perfect outdoor kitchen, pool area, or other outdoor living feature you’ve been longing for. Give us a call today for a free initial design consultation.
