When most people imagine yard work and garden planting season they rightfully assume that spring and summer are the only seasons available, especially if you live far enough north to get cold temperatures and a frost by November. That’s not entirely true, however! Here are some projects for this fall
Gardening and Planting
Many different plants can be planted just in time for a fall harvest and some delicious, homegrown sides on your table for the holidays. Beets and carrots are sturdy root vegetables that have a short growing cycle and are safe well into October. Most root veggies will actually do well, even thriving up until the first hard freeze of the season! Garlic is another widely used crop that does its best growing in fall and spring. Get them in the ground now for a great July harvest!
Fall is also the best time to plant spring-flowering bulbs so long as the ground stays between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit about six weeks before the ground freezes! To make sure you get flowers all spring, plant flowers that bloom at different times. For example, crocuses and snowdrops bloom early spring, while hyacinths, daffodils, and tulips bloom mid-season.
Maintenance
No one likes maintenance but if you want a lawn that isn’t a disaster come spring, it’s a must. Save yourself the trouble, backaches and dirt covered hands and call the experts at Westside Professional Landscaping for all your lawn maintenance needs all year long and for snow removal and holiday decorating during the snowy months.
Fall is the last ‘hoorah’ before everything hibernates for the winter, so it’s important to leave your lawn in good condition for it to thrive before spring. Before putting away your equipment, mow your lawn one last time, keeping it shorter than usual. A shorter cut helps reduce the risk of snow mold, a disease that kills grass as ice and snow melt.
Also, take out your fertilizer and seeder and make sure to give your lawn one last pass through to enrich the soil and promote over-winter growth for an even, lush lawn. One smart trick for fertilizing your grass is to leave your fallen leaves, but mow them over finely. This will help provide a safe home for wintering insects like bees and feeds your lawn as they decompose. Sprinkle a few over your flower beds and garden as well for a no-trash cleanup.
