Although homeowners may worry about their yards looking the best during the summer, the effort that you put into your yard's maintenance during the fall is incredibly important. Not only are there usually more tasks to accomplish in the autumn, but those months are key for preparing for the cold winter ahead. When the frigid temperatures arrive, whatever you have left undone in your yard will remain frozen that way (literally) until the spring breaks. That said, there are a few fairly simple ways you can keep your yard looking its best as the leaves begin to fall:
Winter is coming: Prepare your lawn!
Lawn care is barely an inconvenience over the warmer spring and summer months. People are usually attracted to working outdoors, even occasionally strenuous lawn work. But when the fall arrives in full force and you experience the first nippy day, it can be easy to lose interest in spending time in your yard. Don't let that be the case! If you put more effort into your fall lawn care, your yard has a much better chance of thriving next year, according to LawnCare.org. With the cooler weather comes new challenges in maintaining a healthy lawn. When the air gets cold, common weeds draw nutrients away from the grass. But the fall is also an excellent time to rid your yard of them using weed killer. Don't forget to fertilize your grass as well, because nutrients will begin to disappear more rapidly as fall turns to winter.
Take on leaves and other debris
In plenty of areas across the U.S., the falling foliage in the fall is responsible for beautiful, breathtaking scenes that feature autumn colors. Because so many leaves, pine needles and other forms of foliage are dropping off the trees, however, a messy yard is a common occurrence over the fall months. This can be problematic – especially if leaves and other debris pile up in an in-the-way place, like a gutter. If you want to practice good landscaping habits, however, it is a good idea to regularly rake or blow the leaves off your grass and into bags or a compost pile. Leaves that freeze over the winter contribute to mold, stunt the growth of grass and invite unwanted animals, according to the University of Minnesota. If you don't feel like raking your entire yard, consider using your lawnmower to mulch the leaves instead. Doing so will replenish the soil with organic nutrients. If you can't decide if your yard has too many leaves, it's better to just remove them.
Clean and store all of your outdoor furniture
If you have outdoor furniture, it's a good idea to take the time to clean it before you store it for the winter. Start by removing all of the pillows and covers so that you can clean them thoroughly. If the material is not machine-washable, it's a good idea to wipe them down with a damp towel, at the very least. Then, pick out a warm, dry place to store the pieces over the winter. Garages, attics or basements are all good places to keep your furniture.
Don't hesitate to decorate!
Not all of fall yard maintenance has to be painstaking or tedious. You will have plenty of opportunities to add to the aesthetic value of your yard because there is perhaps no better season for outdoor decor than autumn. Halloween is just around the corner, which means you can add decorations from your front door to the garage doors in preparation of neighborhood families stopping by for candy. Even if you're not a fan of Halloween, decorations involving pumpkins, gourds and cornucopias are fun ways to take advantage of the autumn season.
