Most people think that once the weather begins to change, the grass will stop growing and their yard duties will be over until the next spring. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, fall is a great time to begin planning and planting for spring, and making sure that your lawn and plants will be protected for the winter.
One of the most obvious places to begin when thinking about preparing your yard for winter is to consider the gardens you might have. Whether you have flower gardens or a full-fledged vegetable garden, both will benefit from proper end-of-season care.
Start your clean-up in the garden by removing any old plants since they can harbor diseases. Throw the plants away, don’t compost them. Leave some plants, such as black-eyed Susans, purple coneflower, and grasses as they help provide seeds for wintering birds. Remove the leaves of hosta, lilies, and irises. These leaves might end up being used for a slug’s winter home, which you don’t want.
Now is the time to add compost to your garden to give it additional nutrients. If you don’t have your own compost pile, you might be able to get some from your city government, or purchase it from the local nursery. Layer the compost on top of the soil to a depth of four or five inches before you add mulch.
Your grass might not appear to be growing any longer, but that’s not entirely true. In fact the roots are continuing to grow as they prepare for winter. This is the time to fertilize and reseed your lawn. If there are bare spots, think about adding sod to cover the spots now so they have a chance to establish their root system prior to spring.
Flowering shrubs, such as roses, need to be pruned for healthy growth in the spring. Wait to prune until after the leaves have turned, which lets you know the plant is in a dormant state. If you’ve never pruned before, you can visit a local nursery or home improvement store for proper instruction on pruning your plants. Spread mulch around the base of the plant to help protect and insulate it during the winter.
Don’t forget to prune your trees. Tress should typically be pruned in the early autumn, but to find out the best time for specific trees in your area, contact a local county agent or arborist. Make sure you trim any limbs from around power lines and away from your house to prevent any damage from ice or snow during the winter. Don’t forget to slowly soak the roots of your trees well before the first ground freeze.
Your lawn and garden, while they don’t require as much work in winter, still need your attention. A little time and effort now will help your lawn look better than ever when spring arrives, and will protect your flowering plants so they’ll be healthy and ready to bloom again after the cold weather has passed.
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