Fall Clean-Up Tips for a Healthy Landscape

Fall Clean-Up Tips for a Healthy Landscape

Fall is the time to prepare your landscape for winter and ensure it remains healthy. Cleaning up your yard in the fall helps protect your plants and sets the stage for a vibrant garden next spring. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Rake and Remove Leaves

Fallen leaves can smother your lawn and garden beds if left unattended. Raking and removing them helps prevent disease and allows your lawn to breathe.

Leaves that are left on the ground can create a layer that blocks sunlight and traps moisture, leading to fungal diseases and dead patches in your lawn. Regular raking and removing leaves can prevent these issues and keep your lawn healthy. Consider composting the leaves or using them as mulch in your garden beds.

2. Prune Dead and Diseased Branches

Pruning in the fall removes dead or diseased branches, reducing the risk of damage during winter storms. It also helps shape your plants for healthy growth in the spring.

 
• Focus on removing branches that are dead, diseased, or damaged.
 
• Prune back any overgrown shrubs to maintain their shape and encourage new growth.
 
• Dispose of pruned material properly to avoid spreading disease.

3. Aerate Your Lawn

Aerating your lawn in the fall helps relieve compaction, improve drainage, and allow air and nutrients to reach the roots. This is especially important if your lawn gets heavy foot traffic.

Aeration can be done with a manual aerator, a machine, or by hiring a professional service. The process involves creating small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the root zone. Aerating in the fall helps your lawn recover from the summer and prepares it for the winter months.

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4. Mulch Your Garden Beds

Applying mulch in the fall helps protect your plants' roots from temperature fluctuations and conserves moisture. It also adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down.

Mulching in the fall insulates your plants and enriches the soil for a healthy start in the spring.

What’s on your fall clean-up checklist?

By following these fall clean-up tips, you can prepare your landscape for winter and set the stage for a healthy, vibrant garden next spring. Regular maintenance during the fall helps protect your plants and ensures they come back strong when the weather warms up.