Fall is a great time to start getting your yard ready for the winter season. More than that, it’s the perfect time to start planning for the next Spring. Proper maintenance and care can save your yard through the Winter and help avoid expensive repairs when the snow melts. It’s also an excellent opportunity to start planning for a backyard design and build project. We’re sharing some Fall yard maintenance tips and advice on how to start planning for a redesign or brand new yard design and build project.
A change of season is almost here. Tuesday, September 22nd, marks the first day of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. The weather gets a little cooler, the leaves change, and the lattes get a little more…pumpkin spice-y. It’s a beautiful time to reflect on summer memories and look towards the future as the days get shorter, and we prepare to hibernate in a few short months.
Part of that preparation is getting the yard and house ready for the cold weather. Fall is a great time to give your grass, gardens, and outdoor features some TLC. Here are five things you can do to prepare your lawn in the Fall.
Cut and water your grass
As the weather gets colder, your grass will start to grow a little slower. It might seem like you can put your mower away after August, but don’t neglect your lawn!
Keep watering your grass, and mowing it to keep it healthy. Later on in the Fall season, you’ll want to drop the blade on your mower and cut the grass short, about 1 1/2″. Cutting your grass a little shorter will help protect it from mold and mildew when the grass is covered under snow and ice.
Find out exactly when you should stop mowing your lawn.
Rake up leaves and debris
Ah raking. Everyone’s favourite Fall time activity. Raking up leaves and debris is extremely important for keeping a beautiful lawn. As leaves on the ground begin to decompose, they can ruin nutrient balances in your yard, provide a warm home for winter bugs and pests, and piles of leaves can kill off patches of grass through the Winter.
Pay special attention to the pattern of leaves that fall in your yard. Maybe they’re nothing more than a slight inconvenience. However, if you’ve got a large tree dropping leaves in your eavestrough, it might be time to rethink that tree. Only you’ll know if it’s worth it, but if the tree is more of a hassle than a blessing, you might want to start thinking about a backyard redesign.
Aerate your grass
Depending on your lawn, the soil’s nutrients, and possible drainage issues, your soil can become compacted. Compacted soil is dry, hard, tight soil that chokes roots, leaving less room for air and water in the ground.
You can use a machine plug aerator or a simple hand tool like a spike aerator to punch holes in your soil and break up the compaction. This is an excellent Fall maintenance task as it softens up your soil and allows all the water and nutrients from the Winter snow to be absorbed.
Take care of your deck or patio
A deck or patio is an essential part of any backyard living space and needs special care and treatment through the Fall and Winter. Take some particular time and care to clean and wash your deck or patio, remove leaves, grass clippings, and give it a good sweep.
It’s also a good idea to think about sealing your deck or patio once it’s cleaned. Sealing will help to protect the wood and concrete (or other stone) from the water, snow, and ice that is soon to come.
You’ll also want to look for any signs of damage or decay like cracks in the patio or rotting wood on the deck. These weak spots can be affected by the cold and wet Winter. If possible, try to cover up these damaged areas to protect them from snow and ice. Make a note and remember to check on it in the Spring.
Start planning for a Springtime redesign
After the cleanup and Fall maintenance, you might notice a few things about your yard. Maybe it’s the tree casting too much shade in the Summer and dropping too many leaves in the Fall.
Maybe it’s how the sun shines into the yard, on a patch of grass that would be the perfect location for a pool. Perhaps it’s the gardens that are just missing that little something. It could be a patch of long grass, indicating a drainage problem. Or maybe it’s a glance into your neighbour’s perfectly designed yard that gets your imagination going.
Whatever the cause, Fall is a great time to start thinking about a new backyard design & build project. Beginning the process now gives you more time to plan, dream, and strategize for the warmer weather.
Find out how to plan the yard of your dreams.
With colder weather just around the corner, make sure you start your Fall yard maintenance soon. Special attention to grass, leaves, and outdoor features will ensure that your yard is protected from snow and ice, and ready for the Springtime sunshine. It might seem like it’s far away, but it’ll be here sooner than you think.
That’s why you’ll want to start planning for your backyard design & build project now. To help you out, we’ve got a free Inspiration Guide download so you can let your outdoor living space dreams run wild.
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