The warm, summer months are behind us and upon us already are the cooler months of fall. You often think about doing most of your outdoor maintenance in the summertime, but there are some things that should be done before the winter starts. Here’s what to tackle around your property now that the leaves have begun to fall.
Trees and Shrubs
- Prune as necessary once leaves have fallen. To avoid damage, consult an arborist or landscaper if you are not certain what to prune
- Wrap newly planted trees and shrubs with burlap for protection against harsh winter elements
- Protect younger trees from mice and rabbit damage by placing a cylinder of ¼-inch mesh hardware cloth around the trunk. The cylinder should extend 2 to 3 inches below the ground line for mice and 18 to 24 inches above the anticipated snow line for rabbit protection.
- Protect trees from sun scald by wrapping the trunk with a commercial tree wrap or plastic tree guard
- Clean up any dried up stems or buds that have fallen away
Garden Beds
- Plant spring bulbs (tulips, crocus or daffodil)
- Divide and/ or mark out perennials such as day lilies and peonies
- Replace your summer annuals with fall colour such as mums, asters, pansies, ornamental cabbage or kale
- Turn-over beds to enhance soil compost and allow for water penetration into sub soil
- Hill-up roses and ramp soil 6”-8” at the base of the plant to prevent frost damage
- Leave ornamental grasses for winter interest and keep blooms on shrubs like Hydrangea or flowers like Echinacea
Lawns
- Cut turf to 2 ½” to prevent winter rodent damage
- Core-aerate the lawn to reduce compaction, improve grass rooting, promote thatch breakdown and enhance fertilizer uptake
- Over-seed and top-dress now to give new grass time to establish itself before winter
- Fertilize well with a low nitrogen level slow release fertilizer to reduce top growth, encourage new root growth. When given adequate nutrients grass can store food during winter months.
Hardscapes
- Drain and winterize water features (ie: bubbling rocks & ponds)
- Turn off and winterize irrigation systems before the first freeze
- Reset automatic timers on outdoor lighting and inspect all fixtures
- Inspect uneven surfaces such as driveways and walkways to prevent winter slip and falls.
The Rest
- Clean out gutters and downspouts to prevent ice clogs during the winter
- Bring in the garden hose and turn off the tap inside the unit
- Bring in any plants not meant to withstand the cold. Potted perennials can be replanted in gardens in the spring
- Finalize winter contracts and ensure your winter contractor is ready – winter stakes are installed to protect curbs, location of snow piles is clear and the type of ice-melter you will be using has been confirmed.
As you ready yourself for the winter, make sure your backyard is prepared for the cold as well. Doing preventative maintenance will better prepare your trees and gardens for the winter so they are in better shape when the spring arrives.
Taken from the article “Preparing Your Property For Fall” by Nathan Helder, originally published in the Fall 2013 issue of Condo News
