As summer begins to come to a close and leaves begin to fall, you may think that you can put away your lawn care tools for the winter. However, this is not the case. Fall is an important time of year to prepare your business’s lawn for those long, cold months. In fact, the better care you take of your lawn in the fall, the more beautiful your lawn will be in the spring.
Here are six fall maintenance details that you should focus on for your commercial property.
1. Debris Removal: As trees begin to drop leaves, you will want to be sure to regularly remove them. Leaving dead leaves on your lawn can lead to the grass being smothered and prevent the growth of new grass. Mice, groundhogs and other pests are also attracted to dead leaves and other organic debris. Leaving this organic debris can also lead to drainage issues and cause problems when snow begins to melt.
We have a few tips for the best way to remove leaves from your yard:
- Rake your leaves onto a tarp for easy removal. The tarp makes it easier to move leaves to either the curb or the compost pile.
- Rake your leaves into rows, this makes it easier to bag your leaves as rows can be separated into more manageable portions than large piles.
- If you don’t have many leaves, you can simply run your lawn mower over the leaves to shred them and use them as a natural lawn fertilizer.
2. Remove dead shrubs & trees: If you notice any trees or shrubs that didn’t grow or bloom over the spring and summer, now is a great time to have them removed. If you are unsure if the vegetation is living, simply scratch the bark at the base to check for any green. If there is green, it is still alive; if you don’t see green, then it may be dead. Contact our team for any tree or shrub removal.
3. Mowing: It is important to continue to mow and water your lawn as often as needed through the fall. This is important to keep your lawn healthy and strong so that it can withstand the upcoming freezing temperatures. Once the temperatures begin to drop, it is important to set your lawn mower blades to the lowest setting for the final two cuts of the season. This will allow for more sunlight to reach the grass crown and provide faster drying time of your soil in the Spring.
* Please keep in mind that once temperatures begin to consistently fall below 50 degrees during the day, you no longer have any need to mow your lawn and can put your mower away for the season.
4. Lawn Aeration: Although not a service that we provide, aerating your lawn is important for a number of reasons. Aerating can remove thatch, beautify your grass, and ease any soil compaction. Excessive lawn debris and thatch can lead to your lawn’s roots being deprived of necessities, such as air and water. The best time to aerate your lawn is in the fall, but still during the growing season, this allows for your grass to heal and fill in any open areas more quickly.
* Be sure to aerate and seed your lawn early in the fall with a cool-weather grass seed to take advantage of warmer soil. Keep in mind that you will want to overseed and overwater your lawn for maximum aeration. This will also help to give your grass a head start for a beautiful lawn.
5. Fertilizer: Fall is the perfect time of year to add fertilizer. The cooler temperatures and morning dew help to provide the perfect setting for your yard to regain its strength after the summer heat. Fertilizing at this time of year helps your lawn to develop a stronger root system for the winter months.
6. Mulch: Laying down mulch around your plants and shrubs is beneficial as it prevents soil erosion and helps to stop weeds from growing. It also helps improve the look of your property, which is often the first impression your clients have of your business. Be sure to lay down 2 – 3 inches of mulch for perennials and cool-weather annuals to keep them healthy during the winter months.
* To save money on mulch you can use pine needles, sawdust, straw, grass and fallen leaves. These organic materials will also help to add essential nutrients back into the soil.
Follow these tips and you will be sure to have a beautiful lawn come spring. For more tips, or to schedule us for your commercial fall landscaping and lawn needs, contact our team today!