Simple Tips For Fall - Preparing Gardens And Lawn

Simple tips for fall and preparing your landscape gardens and lawn. Get your yard ready for next spring.

For many of you fall is here and the heat of the summer is about over, Vibrant color leaves on trees, football games, and bonfires are in full swing. Preparing your gardens and lawn at this time of year can benefit you next spring.

There are some basic steps to do to get your plants and lawn ready for the first frost and the cold winter months. Warmer climates still have to plan for the cooler weather and drop in humidity.

Take a look at the leaves of this tree below. It was taken in mid July in the heat of the southeastern United States. This is a Sweetgum or Gumball tree. The tree provides shade in those hot summer months but also has a draw back of gumballs falling all over the ground. I think this particular tree didn't know what season to be in.

Below are some simple tips for you to do before the winter sets in. Lets start out with the landscape area and gardens.

1. You have so enjoyed your vegetable, herb, or flower gardens. You notice the shrubs and some of your trees are getting out of control. In the fall properly pruning trees, shrubs and flowers - tips to help you explains the correct way to prune back your plants.
2. Once your garden has past the peak season, it is very important to prepare it for the colder and dormant months. Collect all your annuals that have died out and remove any dead leaves off your perennial plants. If you have just annual beds, I recommend tilling the ground and working the soil before the first frost. You may opt to have a fall garden, but still plan to turn over and work the soil after the plants have died off. A perennial garden stills needs care at this time of year. Most perennial flowers will need to be trimmed back.
3. When preparing the bed during the fall, it is a good idea to add some compost if you have a compost bin. Leaves make a wonderful compost material for the next year. The rich ingredients will sit in the soil even if your ground freezes. If you don't have compost material consider adding a few bags of mushroom compost.
4. Your perennial and evergreen trees and flowers will benefit from a couple of inches of new mulch or a good layer of pine straw. This is a nice insulation for your plants.
5. Any concrete bird bath should be tipped upside down after the first frost and when the cold temperatures set in. The continued ice or snow can crack this nice outdoor feature. I do this in zone seven even though our ground doesn't freeze. Come up with alternate solutions if you can feed the birds in the winter. Use another type of bird bath material. I take a couple of big metal bowls and put water in them.
6. Planting fall bulbs should be done like any other garden. Proper preparation of the soil is a must for the flowers to appear in the springtime.
7. Of course autumn is one of the best times to plant new trees or shrubs. This is a good time also if you are looking at transplanting shrubs to another location.
8. Think about doing that outdoor feature now as the cooler temperatures will make the project a little easier on you.

Those are just a few simple tips to get your gardens for the winter months and ready for next spring. The time you have spent watering your lawn and enjoying the lush green color will soon be over with for this season. Take the necessary steps now to ensure your lawn will maintain the beauty next year.

The fall is a great time to seed or install sod. Sod Or Grass Seed - Tips To Enhance Around Your Landscape Area will give you some simple suggestions on deciding to use grass seed or install sod. Aerating your lawn in fall will help with existing or new grass. Fertilize your lawn and spray for weeds and insects before the first frost.

If you live in a tropical or warmer climate, continue with your spray and watering schedules. Taking care of your lawn in fall is as important as caring for it in any other season. For some of you, by October or November your lawn will become that classic winter white and stay that way until next spring. In warmer climates grasses such as Bermuda and Centipede will turn brown.

Many of you dread the autumn as leaves are all over the place. Make it a family project and collect the leaves and use all of some of them to make a compost pile.

Another simple tip is to keep your mower at a higher level in fall as the day and night time temperatures will begin to cool down. These are just a few basic tips on preparing your landscape gardens and lawn for the winter months ahead.

Here are a couple of other quick items to think about. These are just normal things to consider doing each autumn season.

1. Make sure all outdoor faucets are turned completely off.
2. Check all your outdoor light fixtures and make sure they are working properly.
3. If you have a fireplace, make sure the chimney has been cleaned and free of any summertime debris.
4. Get your fireplace logs and twigs all set for easy access. It is not a good idea to stack wood against your home or in your garage. Select an area close to the house. Tarp the wood or put the wood on a pallet or other structure. This will help keep it dry throughout the colder months.
5. Time to winterize your pool and pond.

Fall is a wonderful season to enjoy so many different outdoor activities as well as preparing your gardens and lawn for the following year. Consider also doing a inside container garden so you can continue to enjoy your favorite plant specimens Miniature shrubs and herbs are a great solution to having color and also enjoying the herbs in culinary dishes. If you have any questions on preparing for the cooler months feel free to contact me here at the Web site.