10 Fall Cleanup Tips You’ll Be Thankful For Come Spring
1. Clean Out Debris
Fallen leaves and weeds are the perfect place for pests to settle in for the winter. Clear out flower beds to keep them away. Pay special attention to rose beds, if you have them, as their foliage can foster disease over the winter.
2. Beware Rogue Branches
Trim up any large or out-of-place tree branches that may cause trouble during the winter. You don’t want any branches breaking and falling during the snowfall and ice storms we’re bound to see again this winter.
3. Clean Out the Gutters
Not all fall cleanups are at ground level. This is the perfect time to clear leaves and other debris from rain gutters. Check for proper drainage, clear out blockages with a garden trowel, and rinse with a hose.
4. Dry Everything Out
Drain all water from hoses, fountains and drip irrigation systems, and store equipment in a dry place. Water left standing over the winter can damage your gear.
5. Aerate
Break up soil to keep water from pooling and guarantee that nutrients will reach all of the roots over the winter. A garden fork may do the job for small yards, but larger yards may require a professional.
6. Feed the Lawn
Send your yard into winter with the nutrients it needs to survive the long, cold sleep. Add a fall lawn fertilizer with high phosphorous content to encourage root growth and enjoy a lush, green lawn come spring.
7. Rake and Mulch
It is very important not to let fallen leaves win! If left unattended they can suffocate your grass. Rake them up, shred them, and use them as mulch for young trees, shrubs, and flower beds. You might even be able to skip the raking part if you use a lawn mower to mulch the leaves in your yard.
8. Prune Trees and Shrubs
Trim any dead branches and cut back overgrown trees and bushes. If you have blooming perennials like clematis or roses, now is the ideal time to prune them and train the branches.
9. Give it one Last Mow
Set your mower to a low setting and give the lawn a close buzz before winter sets in. This helps the soil dry out more quickly in the spring, which leads to a more beautiful lawn all summer (if you do this yourself, make sure that the lawnmower is drained of gas before you store it away.)
10. Divide and Cut Back Perennials
If your perennials really took off this year, go ahead and spread the love. Divide plants and add them to other beds where they will also do well. This saves money and time in the spring. Fall-blooming perennials like chrysanthemums shouldn’t be divided now — wait and divide them in the spring.
Protect Cold-Sensitive Plants
Keep sensitive perennials, shrubs, and roses in top shape through the cold days of winter. Add mulch to the base and wrap plants in cloth barriers to prevent damage from freezing. Depending on the hardiness of the plant you can use a single sheet or blanket, or wrap them in a combination of cloth and plastic.
Plant Bulbs, Shrubs, and Fall Annuals
Some plants do best when planted in the fall. If you want to add new shrubs or spring bulbs like hyacinth, now is the time to get them in the ground. Fall annuals are also a great addition to keep some color in your yard as other plants go to sleep.
Clean Tools and Store Them
Don’t throw your gardening tools in the shed and forget about them until spring; it’s a bad, potentially expensive idea. Take time to give them a good cleaning and add a light coat of oil to prevent rust during the cold season.
Courtesy: Jess Felton – Homeservice Club of Canada