The long days of summer have come to an end. Now, there’s a hint of coolness in the evenings, and that can only mean one thing. Fall is almost here, with shorter days, red and gold leaves, and glorious sunsets.
It’s also the perfect season for relaxing in your backyard, with warm drinks and sustainably cooked comfort food to make it that much more enjoyable. Before you do that, though, you need to follow a few steps that will prepare your yard for fall.
Make Sure You’re Covered
No one likes to be exposed to cold winds, and that goes for your plants as well. Fall plant protection means making sure that the winter to come doesn’t cause any harm to your harvest crops. Custom tarps can protect sensitive plants as well as trees. These can be removed when there’s sunshine, and replaced at night.
Your backyard furniture needs protection too. Custom tarps and sectional covers should be on hand to keep your furniture safe from falling leaves and strong winds.
Prepare your Pit
Nothing beats sitting around a fire with family and friends on a crisp fall evening with a warm drink and your favorite snacks on hand. Making sure that your fire pit is prepared for the occasion is essential. Take the time to clean the ash and debris that may have collected over time. Make sure to check all bolts and screws. Check to see if fasteners and masonry need replacing, and coat the grill and gates with a thin layer of oil for sheen and protection.
Transition your Garden
Changing seasons means changing gardens, too. Fall is a great time to divide overly large plants and replant in new locations, where they can take root. Potted herbs and smaller plants can be moved indoors. This is also the time to collect seeds, remove mulch, and check for damage.
If you have a vegetable patch, now is when you ought to plant pumpkins, beets, carrots, and others that will grow well in the coming months. Chrysanthemums and asters are also among the lovely flowers you can plant in fall.
Don’t forget to fertilize
Fall is an important time to fertilize your yard. This keeps your lawn healthy before the chill sets in. Experts say that the right mix of fertilizer during this season has high proportions of nitrogen and potassium. This brings about enhanced rooting, cold-hardiness, disease resistance, and tolerance. Some plants, such as vegetables, may need more fertilizer, whereas others such as flowers will require less.
Enrich and aerate the soil
You should also be thinking of soil aeration along with fertilizer. This will improve the soil’s texture and overall physical quality. Use a gardening fork to mix these into the soil, and spread evenly all over. By doing this, you can minimize the number of gardening tasks you have to do in spring. It’s easier to do this in fall, rather than in winter when the ground is hard, or in spring when it is soggy.
Look After Backyard Trees
It’s vital to check and maintain the trees in your backyard during this time. Fewer leaves make it easier to check for damaged or broken branches. You can then remove or trim them. Once leaves begin to fall, give tree roots a thorough watering before the ground hardens and no longer allows water to get through.
Get Rid of Weeds
Beautiful as the season is, it can also come with annoyances in your yard. Weeds are one of them. When removing them, make sure to eliminate the roots, and not just cut off the top growth. If not, they can grow again. Dispose of them in special waste bags. Mulch can also keep weeds from sprouting, so spread it well.
Prepare your Gardening Gear
It’s important to clean and sharpen your gardening tools in preparation for fall. Remove any dirt that may have gathered in the joints, and use a specialized cleaning solution to wipe it down. Pruners and mowers should have their edges sharpened, and spraying equipment needs to be washed and rinsed. Containers and pots can be examined for cracks or other damage. It’s also important to check for any leaks in garden hose tubing – don’t wait till it freezes!
From Grass to gutters, Keep Everything in Order
Before fall sets in, you should make sure that everything in the backyard is neat, tidy, and inviting. Grass should be trimmed short, gutters should be cleared, dead plants and debris should be removed and carted away.
Store equipment in the shed for easy access. Furniture should be cleaned and cared for with the help of accessories like sofa covers, sectional covers, and their accompanying air bags. Add touches of autumn decor, and your backyard will be cozy, homey, and a perfect place to welcome the season.
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