A winter chill is definitely in the air, but there are still some lovely, warm days of autumn ahead. Smart homeowners will be using those nice days to get their lawns and gardens ready for winter, knowing that a little extra work to give the yard a good cleanup in the fall means less work when spring rolls around.
- Start by cleaning up garden beds; throw annuals into the composter and cut back perennials to about five inches from the ground. Apply a five to six inch layer of mulch comprised of straw or leaves.
- Continue to cut your lawn, but keep the length a little higher – three inches or so – and bag the clippings.
- Apply a high-quality fall lawn fertilizer before mid-November. If weeds are a problem, try a fall lawn food 10-5-20 plus weeder.
- When the trees are bare, give the lawn a thorough raking to remove thatch.
- Use leaves to create a leaf mould top dressing for gardens next spring. Place shredded leaves in garbage bags with a few handfuls of soil, moisten and close. Shake the bags once a week. Dig the compound into the soil in spring or use as a top dressing.
- Turn the soil to aerate it and prevent compaction over the winter.
- Hill up the base of your rose bushes with top soil, up to 12 inches.
- Before the ground freezes, give the soil around evergreens a thorough soaking. This will provide them with the extra moisture they require to survive the winter.
Giving your property a thorough cleanup in the fall will keep it looking good all through the winter and mean less work when the snow melts.
CALL OUR CREWS FOR FALL YARD CLEANUPS – (416) 925-1111
