Summer may be in the rearview mirror, but now’s not the time to fall behind on yard maintenance. As the weather gets cooler and evenings arrive earlier, we’re all tempted to spend less time outdoors and let landscaping tasks fall by the wayside.
But now’s not the time to slack off!
“As we enter the fall and winter months, many homeowners may find themselves engaging in some extra yardwork to take care of falling leaves, debris from storms, and other seasonal maintenance tasks,” says Jeremy Walters, sustainability ambassador at Republic Services.
Not regularly maintaining your lawn, garden, or other areas of your home’s exterior during the fall can have consequences. Don’t let the following yard maintenance mistakes turn into bigger issues.
1. Throwing yard waste in the trash
Instead of tossing lawn clippings and fallen leaves into the trash, aim for eco-friendly disposal. You can either throw tree and yard clippings in the green bin or use them as mulch to enrich your lawn and other plants.
“When you mow your lawn, leave the clippings where they fall. They will help enrich the soil,” says Walters. “If you can avoid putting your lawn clippings or yard waste in the trash, you’re taking a small step to help support the environment.”
2. Letting debris pile up in the gutters
“All sorts of debris can land in your gutters, including leaves, twigs, seeds, and trash, that gets caught in the wind like plastic bags,” says Michael Green, vice president of operations for Benjamin Franklin Plumbing.
Not cleaning out your gutters could cause damage to the roof since pooling water can rot your fascia, shingles, and the edge of your roofline. In the worst of situations, an overflowing gutter can damage the home’s foundation.
3. Failing to curb your critter problem
Your yard is likely going to attract critters of all kinds.
“Although ‘pest-proof’ homes aren’t possible, there are ways to minimize the risk of a pest infestation,” says Green. “Remove or relocate any bushes, shrubs, or trees growing next to the house.”
He also recommends examining crawl spaces in and under the home (ooh, creepy) and blocking every hole and entry point.
“Clean up clutter, and don’t let tools, outdoor furniture, or other items lean against a house or garage,” says Green.
Rain can pool in these items, and standing water can attract unwanted pests.
4. Not watering your lawn
You might assume that the rain during the fall season will take care of watering your lawn, but you still need to maintain a regular schedule. Experts say your lawn should get 1 to 1.5 inches per week during the fall. If your lawn is not getting regular moisture, you need to water it.
Use the footprint test to determine if you’ve been watering your lawn enough. Walk across the lawn, and see if the grass blades spring back. If they do, your lawn has adequate moisture. If you can still see your footprint in the grass, your lawn needs more water.
5. Forgetting to target annoying weeds
The cooler temperatures bring frost that may kill weeds, but weeds are persistent little buggers.
Weeds, like fall dandelion, are taking root right now, and it’s a good idea to eliminate them before they get out of control. The frosty weather might kill the weeds in your yard, but they might require more intervention. Apply an herbicide or pull the weeds by hand.
“This routine maintenance will help your dormant plants spring back in a few months,” says Chris Gorne, aka the Plant Dr. on Thumbtack.
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