Lush landscaping and a well-manicured lawn won’t just boost your home’s curb appeal but also give your family a gorgeous space out in the fresh air to enjoy. With proper care and attention during each season, you can have an impeccable yard throughout the year.
In today’s post, we’ll explore in detail how to get ready for the fall clean up in Decatur and keep your outdoor area looking beautiful despite the challenges the season brings. Keep reading to discover some handy fall yard clean up ideas and maintenance tips.
What is the purpose of cleaning the yard for the fall?
Debris can suffocate your lawn and deprive it of air and sunlight which are essential for its growth. Allowing leaf buildup, organic matter, and any other debris to linger will also prevent water evaporation, which means moisture will remain trapped inside and create an optimal environment for fungi, mold growth, and other diseases that can destroy your lawn.
Whether you opt for reliable fall yard clean up services or you enjoy engaging in a DIY yard clean up, it’s important not to skip this step and give your lawn enough nutrients to grow back full and strong in spring.
What does fall yard cleaning consist of?
It usually includes tasks to tidy up your yard and promote healthy growth for the next season, such as raking leaves, clearing debris, trimming shrubs, and preparing your lawn for the winter:
What is the first procedure for cleaning up the yard?
It’s necessary to first remove any debris from your yard, as groundhogs and mice can find a safe home in organic waste like weeds and leaves. When the trees start to lose their leaves, make sure you rake periodically to remove them along with other debris that can prevent your grass from growing. Any waste residue can have a negative effect on the yard’s drainage, attracting insects and causing other problems.
What are the next steps?
1. Remove dead trees and branches
While this is a year-round job, getting it done in the fall is particularly important as the weight of snow on dead trees and branches can cause them to fall, which can be a risk to your family’s safety and it can damage your property.
This task can be relatively easy when it comes to smaller trees. However, if you don’t feel safe climbing the ladder and handling higher branches, it’s best to leave this to professional fall yard clean up services and not risk getting injured.
2. Prune shrubs and bushes
Pruning in fall, before your shrubs bloom, allows you to spot any dead parts and remove them. You can use clearing tools for larger branches and hedge clippers for smaller ones. Make your bushes and shrubs functional for privacy and shade while giving them an appealing look. As you clean up, use your shrub rake for any hard-to-reach areas.
3. Aerate the soil
The process of aeration makes an important part of fall clean up as it removes small plugs of soil that form over time. By creating holes in the ground, oxygen, water, and nutrients can penetrate deeper into grass roots, making your lawn stronger and healthier. The best months to aerate your soil are September and October as it can help the roots recover from the hot summer weather.
4. Nourish the grass
While air temperatures decrease during fall, soil temperatures are warmer which is why roots are still active and photosynthesis still provides nutrients that are transmitted to roots and stored for future growth. Mid-October is a great time to fertilize your lawn and help this process, allowing the roots to grow deeper and wider. Healthy roots will enhance the spring green-up and give you a thicker lawn.
5. Mulch the leaves
Yard clean up and mulching are essential for keeping everything neat. While there are different types of mulch you can use, a great way to recycle the fallen leaves instead of bagging them is to mulch them. They contain about 2% nitrogen which is a vital nutrient that helps keep the plants healthy, green, and thick, but they also help keep weeds away. Make sure you mulch at least once a week and increase the frequency as leaf falling accelerates.
While some regular mowers can mulch leaves with several passes back and forth, there are also specialized mulching mowers and mulching blades.
Need a comprehensive fall yard clean up in Decatur?
Classy Grass is your trusted team of experts who have the experience, knowledge, and skills to provide you with personalized services that will keep your exterior looking its best. Whether it’s time for yard clean up and mulching or other maintenance tasks, you can count on our crew to carry out a meticulous job and make sure your green spaces are healthy and gorgeous, whether you’re near the Transfer House or across the area. Give us a call today!