Another gardening season has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean we can totally forget about our yards! There are a number of tasks to complete in fall so that your landscape is ready for the chilly and snow-filled winter months. Here are some ideas on how to prepare your landscape for winter so that you’re ready to go when spring arrives!
Remove Old Annuals and Vegetable Plants
The annuals and veggies in your garden that won’t make it through the colder months have served their purpose, and it’s time to part ways. Besides being an eyesore, spent plants create habitats for pests and diseases, so it’s best to remove them before winter.
Clean Up the Leaves
Removing leaves from your lawn is important to ensure your grass doesn’t get smothered in the coming months. Either rake them all up or use a leaf blower to make a pile. Add them to your compost, or put them directly on your garden as a layer of mulch to add nutrients to the soil and create shelter for overwintering insects.
It’s OK to leave a thin layer of leaves on your lawn; just make sure it’s no more than about an inch thick. Any more than that could deprive the soil of oxygen, which could affect the health of your grass. Running over them with the mower can help chop them up, reducing leaf clutter and adding more nitrogen to the soil.
"Spending time working in your yard now will make things even easier when spring arrives!"
Aerate, Overseed, and Fertilize Your Lawn
Lawns get compacted every year by foot traffic and precipitation, which means the soil underneath gets compacted as well. Not as much oxygen is able to circulate through the ground, and it’s more challenging for water and nutrients to reach your lawn’s roots. Aerating your lawn with a rake or aeration tool will help target this.
Before the snow comes, it’s also a good idea to overseed any bare spots on your lawn. This will prevent weeds from growing in those areas, plus it will give your lawn a more consistent, lush look. And though soon your grass will be under a layer of snow, it’s important to provide it with nutrients to survive by properly fertilizing.
Apply Mulch
Adding a two to four-inch layer of mulch around trees, shrubs, and plants will help protect them during the winter. Mulch helps to reduce water loss, maintain soil temperature, and prevent erosion. Shredded leaves, bark chips, and straw are just a few organic materials suitable for mulch.
Plant Fall Bulbs
There’s still time to get your fall-planted, spring-flowering bulbs in! These bulbs need time to chill in the ground and will bloom in a few months’ time. Generally, plant bulbs 3x as deep as they are tall and 2x apart as they are tall, though double-check the instructions on the label. Choose early, mid, and late spring bloomers so that your garden is colorful all season long!
Protect Shrubs and Young Trees
Just like we bundle up during the winter months, some of our plants can use an extra layer, too. Protect shrubs from wind damage by wrapping them in burlap. You can also use tree wrap around the trunks of young trees to prevent damage from critters as well as cracks from the frost.
Take a Good Look Around Your Yard
Before wrapping up your fall landscape tasks, do one last walk around your yard to ensure everything is ready for when the snow comes. Protect your barbecue with a high-quality cover, store away outdoor furniture and décor, clean out your gutters, and repair or replace any damaged tools.
As you start to pull out your warm sweaters and scarves, it’s time to also prepare your landscape for the winter months ahead. Focusing on a task every couple of days can help your winter landscape prep seem more manageable. Spending time working in your yard now will make things even easier when spring arrives!