Your Complete Guide To Fall Yard Cleanup
The fall is a wonderful time of year, especially in the temperate climates we get to enjoy in Alabama and other areas of the South — but as much as we love brisk sweater weather, we don’t always love the yard cleanup that comes with the leaf-losing season. Fortunately, with a comprehensive checklist and a game plan for how you’ll accomplish your lawn maintenance, you can usually knock out your outdoor chores long before the pumpkins are ready for carving and the corn is ready for harvesting.
For more information on best practices for lawn care and landscape management in the Northern Alabama region, please visit our blog. If you need assistance with your yard maintenance or would like a free consultation on outdoor living enhancement, please contact our professional team at Twelve Oaks Landscape Co. today!
Autumn Aeration
When you smell the aroma of pumpkin spice and dried leaves, it’s high time to aerate your lawn! Fall and spring are two of the most important aeration periods for any yard, so you don’t want to miss either one of these maintenance sessions. Why aerate in the autumn season? When the temperatures drop in the later months and the cold sets in, you want to make sure your grass and roots systems are firmly planted and fortified with the appropriate nutrients they need to survive throughout the winter. Aerating your lawn before the in-laws arrive for Thanksgiving is the perfect way to ensure that your grass remains green, hearty, and healthy when the springtime thaw rolls around!
Fall: When To Fertilize
In addition to aeration, fertilizing your lawn is a crucial step in the autumnal landscaping process. Ideally, you won’t have to use much fertilizer at all in your grass and garden, but this one-time fertilizer application can be extremely beneficial in helping your yard grow stronger roots in preparation for the inevitable winter.
Please note that if you haven’t yet laid down seeds or sod, you may want to wait until the post-frost period of spring is in swing to fertilize your soil. In the fall months, however, you can still work your soil by tilling it; this primes it to receive the nutrients that are sure to be absorbed from fallen leaves and plant matter.
Trim The Old, Plant The New
Trimming back old, overgrown tree branches or shrubs and removing plants that have already died are important parts of the fall yard cleanup process. Not only do dying branches suck the nutrients from the healthier parts of the plant, but they’re subject to break under the weight of snow and moisture if not properly trimmed. Once your existing hedges, trees, etc. are trimmed or removed, you can put the soil to optimal use by planting a new hedge or sapling. A popular choice for many landscapes in Alabama is the beautiful crepe myrtle, which you can learn more about by reading our pruning guide!
Rake On A Regular Basis
Almost no one truly enjoys raking leaves, but it’s an important part of the fall yard maintenance routine. If you can, try to set aside a couple hours per week that you can designate to raking up fallen leaves, as this recurring routine will make the overall upkeep less taxing than it would be if you wait until the last few weeks of the leaf-losing season.
Work With A Local Landscaping Company
Lastly, you can maximize your fall cleanup efficiency and yard care efficacy by working with a team of professional landscapers. At Twelve Oaks Landscape Co., we offer a number of property management services — and seasonal specialties! — that can vastly improve the longevity and appearance of your lawn, garden, and outdoor living areas. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you prepare your yard for the fall season, so that once the Halloween candy is up for grabs, you won’t be worried about something as unfestive as grass.
