As the seasons turn, so do the needs of your home’s landscape. While spring is a season of growth and summer a season of play, fall is a season of preparation. You need to put in the work in the fall so not only do your plants and lawn survive the winter, but thrive on the other side of it. From fall landscape cleanup to lawn and hardscape maintenance, learn what you’ll need to do this fall before the freeze sets in.
You Need Fall Landscape Cleanup
In fall, two things happen: gardens die, and trees lose their leaves. If you don’t stay on top of both, your garden, lawn, and yard can be in trouble. Gardens need to be tended and cut back to set them up for spring (more on that below), and leaves need to be dealt with. We know no one likes dealing with leaves, but if you skip fall leaf cleanup, there will be consequences. Invest the time yourself or get help from an expert.
Plant, Tree & Lawn Care in Fall
Beyond cleaning up your yard and garden, your plants, trees, and lawn need special attention to ensure they are ready for winter. This includes:
- Fall Plant Care: You may need to cut back plants to promote spring growth, and you will need to remove annuals. Certain plants should be planted before the winter, and laying down a layer of mulch can insulate gardens and flowerbeds.
- Fall Tree Care: Trees should be inspected in the fall after the leaves have fallen. In late fall or early winter, trees should be trimmed to avoid storm damage. If shrubs or tree stumps need to be torn out, now is the time.
- Fall Lawn Care: Now is a great time for lawn care, especially fall lawn overseeding and fall lawn aeration. Both will help protect your lawn through winter and give it room to grow in the spring. Also think about mowing your leaves into the lawn.
Learn more in our blog, Successfully Prepare Your Garden and Lawn for Fall.
Preparing Your Landscape & Hardscape for Winter
We don’t often think about the ground itself and the hardscape—patios, walkways, and other stonework—needing preparation for winter, but it needs maintenance like anything else. Stonework should be cleaned and deicer stores laid in. Pathways need to be inspected for cracks and pooling water to avoid frost heaves. Proper drainage for stonework and landscaping will also help prevent flooding during spring snowmelt.
What we’ve outlined is a lot of work, but you don’t have to do it alone. The professionals at Dolan Landscaping have helped Massachusetts homeowners prepare for winter for years, from leaf cleanups to plant care. Contact us today to schedule your fall landscape cleanup or learn more about our landscaping maintenance services first. We also offer full landscape designs, and now’s a great time to plan your spring project.