Making Your Fall Gardening Maintenance Routine Much Easier

While you might have had a whale of a time with your garden in the summer, simply having to worry about keeping it watered, neat, and setting up a place to have your BBQ, the fall brings with it, a lot more work. Your greenery is still going to be growing strong but it’s also going to become a lot messier with falling leaves, rain, and the added threat of pests which become a lot more prevalent closer to home as the weather cools. To ensure that your fall isn’t spent gardening all the time in bad weather (!) here are a few tips to follow to help make your yard a little easier to take care of.

 

Trim Your Tree Hedges

One of the first tasks to tackle in your fall garden is trimming your tree hedges. Overgrown branches not only create a messy appearance but can also pose a risk as winter approaches. Fall is the perfect time to prune these hedges because the trees are beginning to enter dormancy, meaning there’s less sap flow and the cuts will heal faster, reducing the risk of disease. By trimming your hedges now, you can prevent them from becoming unwieldy during the winter months, making future maintenance much easier. Well-maintained hedges also contribute to the overall neatness of your garden, giving it a more organized and cared-for appearance. Additionally, trimming helps to control the size and shape of your hedges, making them easier to manage in the future.

 

Mulch Your Beds to Reduce Weeding

Mulching your garden beds is a simple but highly effective way to cut down on the amount of weeding you’ll need to do throughout the fall and beyond. Mulch acts as a barrier, preventing weed seeds from reaching the soil and germinating. By applying a thick layer of mulch now, you can save yourself from the constant battle against weeds as the season progresses. Organic mulches, such as wood chips, leaves, or straw, are particularly beneficial because they not only suppress weeds but also break down over time, enriching the soil with nutrients. A well-mulched bed will keep your garden looking tidy with minimal effort, allowing you to focus on other tasks without worrying about unsightly weeds taking over.

 

Clean Your Gutter in Advance

One task that is often overlooked but can save you a great deal of trouble later on is cleaning your gutters before fall is in full swing. As the leaves begin to drop, gutters can quickly become clogged, leading to water overflow that can damage your home’s foundation, siding, and landscaping. By cleaning your gutters early in the season, you can prevent this buildup and ensure that your gutters function properly throughout the fall and winter. Use a sturdy ladder and gloves to remove leaves, twigs, and other debris from the gutters. Consider installing gutter guards to reduce the amount of debris that accumulates in the future, making this chore much easier in the long run.

 

Deal with Leaves Smartly

Managing fallen leaves is one of the biggest challenges of fall garden maintenance, but with the right approach, you can make this task much easier. Instead of using a traditional leaf blower, consider investing in a leaf vacuum. Leaf vacuums not only collect leaves more efficiently, but they also shred them into smaller pieces, which are easier to manage. The shredded leaves can be used as mulch or added to your compost heap, reducing waste and saving you time. This method allows you to deal with large quantities of leaves quickly, leaving your garden tidy with minimal effort. Additionally, you can use the collected leaves to protect delicate plants from frost by spreading them over your garden beds, making your fall cleanup work double-duty.

 

Tidy Away Your Outdoor Furniture

As the weather cools, it’s important to tidy away your outdoor furniture to protect it from the elements and reduce clutter in your garden. Leaving furniture outside during fall and winter can lead to damage from rain, snow, and freezing temperatures, which may cause rust, mold, and other issues. By cleaning and storing your outdoor furniture now, you can extend its lifespan and keep your garden looking neat and organized. If you don’t have indoor storage space, consider using waterproof covers to protect your furniture. This simple task not only keeps your garden tidy but also ensures that your furniture is ready to use when the warmer weather returns.

 

Spot and Destroy Diseased Plant Material

Fall is the time to thoroughly inspect your garden for any signs of diseased plant material. If left unchecked, diseases can spread throughout your garden, causing significant damage and creating more work for you in the long run. As you tidy your garden, keep an eye out for plants with discolored leaves, unusual spots, or other signs of disease. Remove and destroy any affected plant material to prevent the disease from spreading. Do not compost these diseased plants, as the pathogens can survive the composting process and reintroduce the disease into your garden. By being vigilant and addressing these issues now, you can reduce the risk of future problems and keep your garden healthy and easy to manage.

 

Raise Your Lawnmower Blades

As the growing season winds down, adjusting your lawn care routine can make a significant difference in the ease of your fall garden maintenance. One simple adjustment is to raise the blades on your lawnmower. Cutting your grass a little higher in the fall—about 2.5 to 3 inches—can help it stay healthier during the cooler months. Taller grass shades the soil, reducing the likelihood of weed growth and helping to retain moisture. It also allows the grass to develop stronger roots, which will help it bounce back quickly in the spring. By raising your mower blades now, you can reduce the need for frequent mowing and weed control later on, making your lawn care tasks more manageable.

 

Turn Organic Waste into Compost

Dealing with garden waste can be a time-consuming task, but by turning organic waste into compost, you can not only reduce the amount of waste you have to dispose of but also create valuable material for your garden. Composting is an easy and eco-friendly way to recycle leaves, grass clippings, and other garden debris. Set up a compost heap in a convenient spot in your garden, and start layering green material, like vegetable scraps and grass clippings, with brown material, like leaves and twigs. Keep the pile moist and turn it regularly to speed up decomposition. By composting your garden waste, you’ll reduce the need for waste disposal, create rich, fertile soil for your garden, and make your fall garden cleanup much easier.

 

Your garden is going to require plenty of TLC when the fall weather rolls in, but with the tips above, you can make sure it doesn’t take up all of your time.