Fall means a lot of things to different people – the best football games, the perfect in-between too-hot and too-cold weather, falling leaves, and tons of pumpkin spice. It also means a ton of work to get your yard winter-ready and good to go for the following year. Let’s look at six essential fall cleanup tips you should be doing now to get ready.
Tidy Up Fallen Leaves and Tree Nuts – Fall means you will see tons of fallen leaves and acorns littering your yard. While many gardeners would say that the extra leaf barrier helps new growth for the following year, it can also kill off your grass long before winter sets in. Those acorns and other things can also hold back grass growth and result in unwanted seedlings where you don’t want them. Instead, rake your yard into separate piles, creating bio-friendly piles for all those bugs and tiny animals to live out the winter in warmth while ensuring that your yard is mainly cleared out!
Cut Back Dead or Dying Growth – No one wants to wake up one morning to find out that a half-dead tree limb has crashed down with the winter wind and gone through their front window. Now is the time to ensure you cut back any dead or dying growth in your yard, including tree limbs, flowers, and bushes. Doing so can also leave more energy in the plant’s heart, making its survival over the winter much more manageable.
Lay Down Mulch – What should you do to keep your garden safe and happy all winter? Lay down some mulch. Doing so helps keep your garden bed a few degrees warmer, giving plants a headstart through the coldest months and into the following spring. This is also the perfect place to use those leftover leaves and half-dead branches that you cleaned up or cut down earlier!
Protect Your Deck – You could spend a lot of time outside making sure your yard is ready, but remember to protect your deck or porch! Give any wooden surfaces a good power wash and let them dry before adding an excellent weather-proofing stain to help give it a leg-up against mold and mildew. Also, tidy up around the area and put away all furniture that could blow away in the stronger winter weather.
Clean Out Gutters- While you should always keep an eye on your gutters, fall is when you should be doing a good clean-out. Heavier rains, occasional snow, thick leaves, and potentially freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your gutters, and making sure they are clean now will save you a lot of headaches down the line.
Clean and Store All Tools – Your fall cleanup tasks should also extend to the tools you use and even the toolshed they sit in! Ensure all your equipment is filled with gas, sharpened, and organized because you’ll never know when you need it during the winter. The last thing you want to do is have to get out a shovel to clean your sidewalk of snow only to realize that it’s stuck behind that inflatable pool or lawnmower!
Need some extra help with your Fall yard cleanup? Then look no further than Rock City Services. We’ve got you covered when it comes to lawn care, landscaping, and general home maintenance needs, and we are available right now to get your home and yard ready for the months ahead!