At Hinkle Hardscapes, we celebrate fall to the fullest! Although we’re sad to see pool season go, autumn get’s us fired up about a whole new array of outdoor living adventures!
Personally, we love the brisk air, the smell of pumpkin spice, and of course the optimal temperature for lighting a fire!
Even though this time of year is one of our favorites, once the leaves begin to change color, it’s time to start thinking about preparing your yard for winter! Here are 8 things every homeowner should do to their yard this fall.
1). Get Rid Of Debris
Animals love to hibernate under fallen foliage. Keep the critters away by clearing leaves and weeds from your flower beds and lawn. Otherwise, you could be looking at hosting a nursery of little ones the following spring. Although these critters might be cute, they can often ruin your yard. Have you ever seen a yard that’s been converted into a playhouse by a group of moles?!
2). Trim Branches
Make sure that all of your tree branches are strong and secured. If you notice any branches that appear weak or out-of-place, be sure to trim them so that they don’t cause you problems in the winter. The last thing you want to deal with is lugging branches from your yard after a heavy snow storm.
3). Clean Out The Gutters
Aghhh the good ol’ gutters. The truth is, most people dread this task. Regardless, clearing out your gutters is an essential responsibility of owning a home. Many homeowners neglect their gutters, but the reality is that clogged gutters can lead to flooded basements or even foundation problems. Click the image below for great tutorial on how to clear out your gutters properly.
4). Aerate The Lawn
Now’s the time to aerate the lawn! This is a crucial step to ensuring that your yard looks good come spring! This process allows oxygen, water and fertilizer to get deeper into the soil. This creates stronger roots and will increase the density of your lawn! You can rent or purchase an aerator at your local hardware store.
5). Control The Weeds
Do you have dandelions scattered throughout your yard? Now’s the time to fight back! Like most plants, weeds are in their energy-absorbing mode during the fall. This time of year, they soak up everything that comes their way – including weed killers! By applying a herbicide now, the weeds won’t return in the spring! Hooray!
Or, or, OR!!! If you don’t want to use a herbicide, here’s a super cool recipe on how to turn those pesty dandelion flowers into wine. Who knew!?
Click the image below to get the full recipe.
6). Keep On Mowin’
Keep your lawn guy working until the grass starts to frost over. In the fall season, continue cutting your grass as usual until it stops growing. Once you call it quits for the season, be sure to winterize your equipment. Before you store away your mower, you might want to sharpen the blades, change the oil and clean out the air filter.
7). Seed In The Bare & Burned Spots
It’s no surprise that the smoldering summer heat can create bald spots in your yard. Fall is the time to reseed those areas. However, keep in mind that seeds need to touch the soil in order for them to sprout. So before you put the seeds down, agitated the soil by moving it around with a garden rake.
Fall is also a great time to lay down sod! The key is to time the installation 6 weeks prior to the first frost of the season. It’s important to give the roots time to bond to the earth before it freezes.
8). Kick Your Feet Up & Enjoy The Outdoors While You Can!
Fantastic! You’ve worked your butt off getting the yard ready for the next season. Now it’s time to pour your favorite cocktail and enjoy the outdoors! You only have so much time outside before unbearably cold temperatures arrive.
In case you didn’t guess it, at Hinkle Hardscapes, we’re big fans of patios and fire pits! Fall is the perfect time of the year to sit around a warm fire with those you love most!
Want to get a quote on getting your outdoor living space spruced up? Feel free to reach one of our team members at (816) 608-8870 or email me (Emily) at emily@hinklehardscapes.com. We’d love to help you out with your project!
