Fall 101: Yard Cleanup Tips

A proper fall yard cleanup puts you ahead of the game when spring arrives. Fall is almost here, which means it’s time to clean up your yard and prepare for the cool days ahead. A little work now will lead to a big payoff next year.

Clean Your Gutters

Now is a good time to clear leaves and debris from your gutters. Ensure your roof can drain properly to avoid leaks and costly repairs before the cooler wet weather hits.

Prune Trees and Hedges

Trim overgrown areas and remove dead limbs before they weaken and fall under winter snows. Thinning your trees now may save you a roof-repair bill in the future. For higher or heavier tree cleanup, call an expert!

Protect Your Deck

With summer traffic in your backyard slowing, now is a great time to use a pressure washer to clean the mould, mildew and grime from your deck before sealing it. Once your deck is clean and dry, protect it from costly moisture damage during the cooler wet months ahead with a weatherproof stain.

Start a Compost Pile

A great way to reduce your impact on the environment is to compost. You can pick up compost bins in various sizes a at your local hardware store or municipality. When clearing the garden, remove all dead plants and add them to your compost. Do not compost plant stems if the foliage is diseased. Put them in garbage bags or cans instead to avoid spreading weeds and disease.

Till Your Vegetable Garden

It’s time to clean out your vegetable garden. Dig out old vegetable plants and add them to your compost pile. Till the plot thoroughly, then add several inches of compost to nurture the soil for spring planting. Work the compost into the soil to help it breathe and allow rainwater to pass through more easily.

Get the Grime Off Your Tools

As the gardening season ends give your tools a polish. Spend a few minutes wiping them clean to remove debris and dirt. Apply a light layer of oil to keep them from rusting during the winter so they’ll be ready to use next year.

Do a Little Lawn Maintenance

Fall lawn care will yield maximum results in the spring. Aerate compacted soil and use a rake to remove thatch. Use fall lawn fertilizer to improve soil conditions for new spring growth. Mow grass blades no more than 1/3 of its length, and remember to clear dried grass clippings, leaves or dirt from your driveway, patio and/or deck.

Give Your Garden Bed a Clean Sweep

As the growing season ends, give your flower garden a clean sweep and prepare it for spring. Spent plants, debris and weeds can be a welcoming and warm environment for fungi and bacteria to grow and a great place for insects to lay eggs. Clearing it now will save you costly springtime repairs. Once your garden is clean, feed your soil by adding fertilizer, compost and organic topsoil.

Assess Lighting Needs

Now that your yard is in tip-top shape and clear of debris, take a look around. Inspect your outdoor lights to ensure that they’re working properly and replace those that aren’t. If you don’t have landscape lighting, now’s a great time to add it to your space. As the days get shorter, the right lighting can bring your garden to life at night. Go for low-voltage or solar lighting systems, since they’re an affordable and earth-friendly way to illuminate your yard, walkway, patio, driveway and garden.

Source: Homeservice Club