Autumn Yard Maintenance: How to Keep Your Garden Looking Gorgeous

As temperatures start to drop, you might be inclined to spend less time outside. And if you're not considering moving this fall, you'll need to put the effort in to maintain your lawn to ensure it survives the cold weather that's ahead. Whether you want to spruce up your autumnal curb appeal or you want to check off the big maintenance tasks before winter sets in, here are a few fall yard maintenance tips you should keep in mind during the coming weeks.

Don't Forget to Water

Around 3% of the planet's water is freshwater, but that doesn't mean you should skimp on hydration. Although you may not have to water your lawn or your plants as frequently due to lower temperatures, you'll still need to continue watering through the fall season. The rain that occurs fairly often during the fall will help you out a bit, of course. However, you should keep tabs on the soil in your pots and flower beds and make sure to water your lawn if it isn't getting at least an inch of water each week. This can help you finish the growing season out strong and ensure that your lawn has what it needs to survive the winter.

Add New Shrubs and Bulbs

Fall is the perfect time for planting the flowers that bloom in early spring. Even if you aren't part of the $100-billion flower industry, it still pays to plant your tulips, daffodils, hyacinth, crocuses, and snowdrops now. You should plant your new bulbs anywhere from four to eight inches below the ground's surface, depending on the size of the bulb. This is actually a decent time to plant new shrubs and trees, as well. As long as the ground is still warm, you can plant them.

Adjust Your Mowing Height

Although summer is peak lawncare season, that doesn't mean you can stop all activities once fall arrives. Around 90% of Americans prefer to live in homes surrounded by grass lawns, so you'll want to continue your maintenance tasks to ensure everything looks lush and green come spring. Remove fallen leaves frequently to prevent rot (or mow directly through them to fertilize the lawn!) and adjust the height of your mower to account for growth. Your grass will actually continue to grow until your area experiences a hard frost, so mow your grass up until that point so it has around 2.5 to three inches of height. Any longer and it may become vulnerable to mold, but mowing too frequently can make it harder for the grass to survive the winter.

Protect Perennials and Annuals

While you may be able to plant during this time, you'll also need to protect your garden properly. Your siding may be rated for winds up to 110 MPH, but your plants are not. If you grow vegetables, be sure to harvest what's ready and protect any plants that are left from the cold. This might involve covering plants or actually digging up the bulbs to store throughout the winter. Adding mulch or fertilizer can also provide a bit of protection and hydration that many plants need in order to survive the cold season ahead. Taking care of all necessary yard maintenance tasks during this time can be a challenge. But if you make autumnal upkeep a priority, you'll find your garden is even more gorgeous when spring finally arrives again.