In Northern Virginia we typically enjoy a long leisurely fall with conditions well suited to pre-winter germination and growth. The yard maintenance and garden care that you do (or don’t do) in the fall has a direct effect on the quality of lawn and garden you will see emerging in the spring.
End of Growing Season Yard Maintenance Service
Pruning, seeding, fertilizing, mulching, and watering (and weeding!). As the growing season draws to a close, it gives your lawn and garden plants the opportunity to store nutrients and be ready to grow when spring arrives.
These ten fall yard maintenance tips will ensure your lawn and garden plants are well prepared to come back strong in the spring–and beat the weeds in the race for sunlight.
1 Fall Lawn Care Service
The best defense against weeds is dense, well-rooted turf. Investing in a lawn maintenance service that includes core aeration and over-seeding in the fall gives the lawn a head start in the spring.
WHY: Lawn aeration stimulates root growth for dense turf. Plus, fall is the ideal time for lawn fertilization and over-seeding because there is less competition from weeds that thrive in summer heat. Also, the warm soil and moderate air temperatures are ideal for germination. Core aeration injects oxygen into the soil–and oxygen stimulates root growth.
2 Planting: Plan Ahead
We consider planting an important part of any fall yard maintenance service because fall is the absolute best time to plant trees and shrubs.
WHY: As they approach the seasonal dormancy stage, plants switch their focus from above-ground growth to the roots where they gather and store nutrients for spring. Warm soil and cool air temperatures stimulate root growth. Plants establish strong root systems without the threat of heat stress.
3 Watering: “Hydrate” Before Winter
This is something that might get overlooked on your fall yard maintenance services checklist because, if it isn’t hot out, you may not think watering is important. It is. Continue watering your lawn and garden–especialy trees, shrubs, and evergreens before the ground freezes.
WHY: The dry winds of winter are harsh on plants and trees—especially evergreens because their foliage is exposed. Unlike deciduous trees that drop their leaves, evergreens can lose a lot of moisture in a harsh winter and that will affect their growth. You’ll want to ensure trees and shrubs are adequately hydrated before they “shut down” for the cold season.
4 Protect Sensitive Plants
For sensitive plants such as hollies, rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, and magnolias we recommend spray coating with an anti-desiccant that coats the leaves with a protective waxy substance.
WHY: These plant varieties in Maryland and Virginia are in the northern-most reaches of their climate region. So they can use extra help to protect them from dehydrating in frigid winds.
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5 Split and Transplant Perennials
Cut back, split and transplant perennials such as irises or black-eyed susans. You might not see moving or removing plants as an important part of your yard maintenance plan, but it is.
WHY: Perennials will in time completely dominate a plot so much so that they crowd each other out. They may contract a fungus. They won’t look as good or grow as well because of too much competition. So we split bunches and transplant to open spots–or give as gifts to neighbors for replanting.
6 Mulch beds and around trees
Check mulch levels to make sure roots are covered.
WHY: There are many benefits of mulching. At this time of year mulch insulates roots from damaging cold air especially when the snow cover is light.
7 Plant Bulbs for Early Spring Surprises
Plant spring blooming bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, hyacinth and crocus.
WHY: For early season color, well before we see signs of life elsewhere in the lawn and gardens. Spring-blooming bulbs need to be set in cold soil so they can establish a root system before they sprout.
8 Make Time for Bargain Hunting
Check garden centers for end of the year discounts and stock up.
WHY: Nurseries prefer to sell out at the end of the season. They don’t want to care for their tree and shrub stocks over winter or risk losing anything. It’s a good time to buy. And it’s a good time to plant (see yard maintenance tip #7 above)
9 Introduce Late Season Color with Annuals
Plant fall annuals – cold hardy pansies, cabbage and kale.
WHY: Bring some lively cold season color into the holidays and the not so colorful winter season. Pansies are very hardy and, when conditions are right, will continue growing through the winter and into spring. Cabbage and kale stop growing once temperatures drop to 20-degrees. Plant in beds or containers, or both.
10 Call Surrounds!
WHY: Expert advice and help with all your fall lawn and garden care needs.
Fall Seasonal Yard Maintenance & Garden Care: Timing Is Key
In Northern Virginia fall (not spring!) is arguably the most important time of year for planting, transplanting and performing basic yard maintenance tasks. It may seem counter-intuitive because we think of spring and warm weather as the time for planting and growth. Many of the items listed above, if not completed before winter, can’t be done early enough in spring to make a significant difference.
Perhaps you are wondering how to bring out the fullest expression in your landscape and gardens. Our eBook: Choosing the Right Kind of Landscape Maintenance Firm, is full of valuable information to help you understand the fundamental differences between landscape maintenance companies.
About Surrounds Landscape Architecture & Construction
Surrounds is a combined landscape architecture, construction, and landscape maintenance firm. We build what we design and provide ongoing garden care for landscapes we’ve built. Our landscape architects
know construction. Our construction and landscape maintenance experts
understand design. We believe our all-in-one approach best serves Northern Virginia homeowners because it supports clear communication, creative collaboration, and procedural efficiencies that significantly benefit you, our client.