Expert Landscaping, Hardscaping and Lawn Maintenance

What are things landscapers do to freshen up yards during the Fall time?

General Cleanup and Lawn Care

• Leaf Removal: A primary task involves raking or blowing vast amounts of fallen leaves from lawns, garden beds, and hardscaped areas. Leaving thick layers can smother the grass, trap moisture, and lead to fungal diseases like snow mold.
• Debris Clearing: Landscapers remove other organic waste, such as fallen branches, twigs, and spent annual plants.
• Final Mowing: Lawns are mowed until they stop growing, often with the final cut adjusted to a shorter height (around 2-3 inches) to minimize the risk of snow mold and rodent nesting during winter.
• Gutter Cleaning: Clearing leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts ensures proper drainage and prevents water damage or ice dams during winter weather.
• Edging: Garden and lawn borders are often re-edged to provide a crisp, clean appearance.

Plant and Garden Bed Care

• Pruning and Trimming: Dead, diseased, or damaged branches are removed from trees and shrubs to prevent breakage from snow and ice and improve overall plant health. Most perennials are cut back, though some ornamental grasses are left for winter interest.
• Weeding: Fall is an effective time to remove weeds and apply controls, as they are absorbing nutrients to prepare for winter, making treatments more efficient.
• Mulching: A fresh layer of mulch is applied to garden beds, around trees, and shrubs to insulate roots from fluctuating temperatures, retain soil moisture, and suppress weeds.
• Planting: Fall is an ideal time to plant spring-blooming bulbs (tulips, daffodils, etc.) and new trees or shrubs, allowing their root systems to establish before spring growth begins.
• Protecting Sensitive Plants: Tender or newly planted vegetation may be wrapped in burlap or covered to protect them from harsh wind and frost. 

Soil and Irrigation Management

• Aeration and Overseeding: The lawn is aerated to relieve soil compaction and allow better penetration of air, water, and nutrients to the roots. This is often followed by overseeding to fill in bare spots and ensure a thicker lawn next spring.
• Fertilization: A fall-specific, often high-nitrogen, fertilizer is applied to strengthen grass roots and help the lawn store nutrients for the winter, promoting a strong start in the spring.
• Irrigation Winterization: Sprinkler systems are shut down, drained, and “blown out” with compressed air to prevent water from freezing in the pipes and causing costly damage.

Hardscape and Equipment

• Hardscape Maintenance: Driveways, patios, and walkways are inspected for cracks or damage, which are repaired to prevent further issues from freeze-thaw cycles.
• Cleaning and Storage: Outdoor furniture is cleaned and stored or covered, and all gardening tools and equipment are cleaned, sharpened, and winterized for storage.