Fall Lawn and Garden Tips

Fall Lawn and Garden Tips for your Landscape

You and your fall garden benefit when you give your plants the same TLC in fall as you do in spring and summer.  Wildlife will find food and shelter, weeds will be easier to control, and plant diseases as well as pests will no longer drive you crazy.

Identify pests and then act to reduce the potential for exacerbating these problems through overwintering.  Thorough clean up your lawn and bed areas and pruning are critical as a part of process.

Remove all rotten fruit from the ground around trees.  Prune and Remove dead branches from shrubs and small trees as needed.  Make sure to mulch to help protect your plants from heavy frost after the ground freezes.  If deer are a problem, consider deer netting to protect vulnerable plants.  Clean out old annuals and weeds before seeds drop.  Cut back spent perennials that create hiding places for slugs, snails, and other pests. Prevent problem seeds from spreading.  Leave dried flowers, ornamental grasses, and seed heads that look good and provide food for birds.

Now is a great time to build a compost bin.  Add fresh leaves and grass cuttings to your compost and cover until spring.  Rake up and dispose of leaves around roses, apple trees, and plants susceptible to powdery mildew and other pests and diseases that overwinter on debris.  Remove diseased tomato, potato, and squash foliage to prevent disease. Do not toss these plants in the compost. Bag and discard.

If you wish to have a little color in your garden this upcoming spring, then plant spring bulbs.

Lastly, clean all of your tools before putting them away for the winter.  If you feel overwhelmed for the holidays and need some help, then give us a call at Moyers’ to help prepare your yard for the winter.  301-251-9822. Thanks,