Some essential autumn tasks on your to-do list should include giving permanent plantings such as trees, shrubs, and perennials a little care, cleaning up your garden, and winterizing your lawn.
It’s also time you restock and reorganize your garden supplies in Calgary. A little work now means you’ll have more time in the spring to grow plants and colourful flowers, rather than being stuck with cleanups and tracking down garden tools.
The changing of leaves signals the end of the growing season. You need to make sure your landscape looks its best in the colder months, and your plants hang in there until spring.
Deal with the grass and leaves
When the weather cools down in the fall, you need to clean up your lawn and encourage new growth. It’s an excellent time to help your grass recover from being stepped on or played on during summer backyard games. By doing these tasks in advance, ensure the ground is prepared for lush, healthy grass next spring.
Turfgrass also does not do well when there are a lot of layers of leaves on the ground. If you don’t have a lot of foliage, skip the raking and mow, chopping it into smaller pieces that add nutrients to the soil.
Prep the perennials
Weeds can be a nuisance when they grow in abundance, but by removing them now, we can save ourselves a lot of trouble later. To help protect perennials from winter damage, cover them with a 4 to 5-inch-thick layer of bark mulch after the ground freezes.
To ensure a successful planting of bulbs in the spring, consider planting tulips, daffodils, and other spring-blooming bulbs in late September or October.
Care more for trees and shrubs
Did you know that fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs? You should start planting hedge plants or establishing new shade trees in your yard now, as the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow.
This will help you get a head start on winter preparations. In addition, a little autumn care for already established trees and shrubs will help them survive the cold months better.
Add a layer of mulch
Get your mulch delivery in Calgary now to add a fresh layer of mulch, such as wood chips or finely chopped leaves, around perennials, trees, and shrubs to protect the roots from winter temperature extremes.
Mulching will help keep the soil temperature comfortable during the colder months, protecting the roots of your perennials. But remember to keep the mulch from touching the stems to prevent rot and other diseases.
Organize your supplies and garden
The edges of tools can become worn down with lots of use, just like the blades on shovels and spades. Sharpen your tools and coat them with a light layer of vegetable oil to prevent rust over the winter.
Before the cold weather sets in, remove any water from your garden hoses and irrigation lines. This will help to prevent freezing and damage to your plants. To keep small engines running smoothly, drain the gas tanks of mowers, weed whackers, and tillers before they are used.
Clean up and prepare for winter
The freeze and thaw cycle can cause containers made of clay to crack. This is especially true for pots that are filled with potting mix. To keep your pots and planters clean and free of pests, store them in a dry, protected area like a shed or garage.
It’s time to clean your flower beds once the fall has killed your zinnias, petunias, and marigolds. This will allow new plants to take root in the garden beds in spring. To save seeds, collect the blooms of annual plants in the spring and summer. You can store the seeds of these plants in a cool, dry place for future use.
That’s a wrap for fall landscaping. Make sure to cross out everything on your checklist for healthier plant growth in spring and less hassle in winter!
