Hydroscape's Fall Landscaping Guide

Many people wonder what's the point of landscaping in fall when the winter season is coming in anyway. In reality, landscaping this time of the year is crucial if you want to have the same fantastic lawn landscape the following year.

Generally speaking, you have two objectives when doing fall landscaping:

• Preparing for spring
• Cleanup and storage

Let’s cover each one:

Preparing for Spring

For a lot of fall landscapers, they usually focus on the "execution" part of landscaping. They do things like cleaning up the lawn or preparing it for the hard winter ahead. The problem is that, by the time they finish with execution, they don't have enough time to plan for spring landscaping properly.

Not you, of course! If you're someone who loves to plan, then you'll want to start planning for spring before doing all the fall legwork. Start by thinking which plants you want to have in your garden by spring. Different plants have varying schedules that work best for each of them. For most types of shrubs, for example, you want to have your local landscaper start planting them during the early Fall.

Bulbs, however, is a different matter. Each type of bulb has its ideal times of planting, depending on the climate you reside in.

Different types of bulbs also have different depths at which you should plant them. Begonias, for example, need to be planted near the surface with parts sticking out. Daffodils grow the best when you bury them underground, as much as 8 inches below the surface. Other examples of flower bulbs that are ideal for planting in the Fall include tulips, lilies, and gladiolus.

If you have space, also consider planting a fall garden. Vegetables such as kale, cauliflower, arugula, and beets are all fantastic when planted in Fall. It is especially true in warmer climates, where the fall season doesn’t get as chilly.

When preparing to seed your lawn during fall, don't forget to prep the soil first. It means the ground must be well-turned and aerated for the nutrients to seep through successfully. Also, check if the soil is at the proper pH level for your plants.

If you're planning to replant your lawn, consider getting or renting a sod remover. These tools allow you to remove old grass and weeds right at the roots successfully.

Prepping the Soil for Planting

Preparing your soil and plants for the coming winter is one of the most crucial aspects of Fall landscaping. Remember that the harsh and bitter cold will wreak havoc to your delicate lawn, so you must take necessary precautions to minimize any damage.

The first step is to aerate your lawn. The soil in your yard can get compacted from people walking over it. Compaction prevents water and nutrients from getting deep into the ground. You can use the humble garden fork for this purpose. However, you might want to invest in an aerator machine for more extensive lawns.

Next, you also need to fertilize your plants. The grass and shrubs in your lawn will continue to feed on soil nutrients until the temperature gets to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit. So giving them ample nutrients is crucial to their survival. Adequately fertilized lawns will also green much faster come springtime.

Another crucial task (and one that many people hate the most) is raking leaves. However, don't throw those leaves just yet. Stack them in a compost bin that you can use as free fertilizer the following year.

After that, it's all about cleanup work. Trim any lifeless branches from your plants, as these pose dangerous risks to you and your family when they freeze in winter. You can also cut back on your perennials.

Oh, and one of the most important things to remember is to empty your irrigation system. Make sure there is no standing water trapped in the nozzles and pipes, as these can freeze and damage your system. The easiest way is to hook up a low-pressure air compressor to your irrigation system to blow off any excess water. It’s best to do this when the temperature drops, right before the frost starts to appear.

Cleanup and Storage

Once all the lawn work is done, and winter is setting in, it's time to pack your stuff.

Organizing your shed is crucial at this time. Please keep all the gardening tools at the back of your shed, as you won’t be needing them during this season. Instead, bring snow-clearing equipment likes shovels near the front to make them more accessible.

Don't forget to insulate your shed, especially if you have sensitive machinery in there. Note that rodents are an especially annoying problem during winter, as they like to seek out warm areas. Setting rodent traps in your shed should solve any potential critter problems.

Don't forget about Summer Landscaping!

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