In North Texas we appreciate when fall approaches with cooler temperatures, making it more comfortable to spend some time outside. While enjoying the fall weather, don’t forget these 4 steps to prepare your landscape for winter. A little landscape management in the fall will pay with a healthier lawn and garden in the spring.
- Remove leaves and fertilize the lawn: As the temps cool off, the grass sends its nutrients to the roots, storing them to give the lawn a head-start in the spring. At this point, there are some landscape management tasks you can do to make sure your lawn comes back healthy and green in the spring. Fallen leaves can benefit the lawn by providing necessary nutrients. But if just left whole where they fall, they can kill the grass over time. Mowing over the leaves without the grass catcher chops up the leaves into smaller pieces to leave a nutrient-producing layer over your lawn. If you prefer a tidier look to your lawn, leaves can be raked into flower beds to provide the same nutrients to those areas of your landscape. If you still prefer to remove the leaves entirely, either rake and bag them, or mow them into the grass catcher. In addition to tending to leaves, fall is a great time to fertilize your lawn. As the grass sends nutrients to the roots, fertilizing in the fall feeds the roots to give them even more nutrients to store until spring, causing the lawn to grow in thicker. A local landscaper can help you know which fertilizer is right for your lawn.
- Clean up your flower beds: Clean out plant debris and apply mulch (which could be the leaves cleared away from the lawn). If you do not wish to apply mulch, it is important to leave the plant debris in the flower beds to insulate them from the coming cold. However, not removing it now will cause more work come spring.
- Water plants, trees, and shrubs: Make sure to water landscape plants, trees, and shrubs properly in the fall so they are healthier and more prepared to survive the winter. As freezing temperatures approach, as they do even in Dallas, sprinklers are turned off and hoses detached (see below), while simultaneously dryer weather arrives. Proper watering in the fall will ensure your landscape remains healthy throughout the dry winter.
- Winterize your lawn equipment: Once the grass has gone dormant and the leaves have been taken care of, it will be time to put away the lawn mower. Don’t forget to remove any remaining gas from your mower—leaving it in all winter will cause it to gum up and clog the carburetor and invite rust. It’s also time to turn off your sprinkler system and unhook your hoses. You’ll want to shut off any valves to your exterior faucets (if your home has them), remove remaining water, and insulate the faucet and hose bib using an inexpensive slip-on cover. These are relatively easy steps, but failure to do them can cause frozen pipes that can burst and cause costly damage to your home. Taking care of your landscape management equipment will keep it in working order and prevent serious problems.
Fall can be busy with sports, holidays, and back to school. But don’t forget these four simple ways to winterize your landscape. CGreens is a local landscape company that can help maintain your landscape year-round, even making sure it is prepared for winter. Call them at 972-231-2870 for a free estimate.
CGreens Landscape Management | Landscape Management Dallas TX | http://www.cgreens.com/
