Fall Landscaping-Not Just Leaf Clean Ups

Around this time of year, the days are getting shorter and the temperature is getting colder. Some might think that the landscaping season is over. The fall landscaping season is in full swing. While it is getting close to winter for Bergen county, there are still many landscaping chores that can be performed. Of course the fall leaf season is currently upon us.

My personal thoughts on fall leaf cleanups is to clean leaves frequently, weekly leaf cleanups are the best. Why? First, cleaning leaves frequently will mean less leaves to clean each time you do your leaf clean up. Secondly, if you allow the leaves to build up on your lawn, you may find that when you go out to do your leaf clean up that the leaf build up may have killed some areas of grass due to suffocation.

Lawns need to breathe. This is especially true of newly seeded lawns. Fall is the best time to re-seed a lawn and it is still not too late. If you have bare spots go for it! It is still better now than in early spring. Please don’t wait!

It is also not too late for core aeration and fall fertilization. We get a lot of calls around this fall period from folks that have moved into their new home over the summer. They were too busy with the move or had to do the inside fix up first. This is quite understandable. You have to live inside, so the question comes, “Am I too late?”

I think not, for the most part. Weeds can still be killed in the fall. Most plant material can be pruned in the fall. Planting beds can be reshaped and mulched, many plants can also be installed. Most people I come across think it is too cold. I answer, “Plants and trees live outside.” Fall is not too late for planting as long as you can find the plants that you want.

So, it is not too late, put on your sweater, get outside and rake and do your leaf clean ups. Put some mulch in your beds to protect your trees and shrubs. Please see my blog on mulch All About Mulch, Do I Need It May 3, 2019. Of course Keep It Green Landscaping is always here to help you if you need us. Fall is for landscaping and it is certainly not too late to get an early start on spring.

For more information about our Landscape Maintenance or our Leaf Cleanups services please see our pages or give us a call at 201-445-4646 to set up a free consultation.

What Happened to Fall?

You wouldn’t be able to tell by the temperatures. Not too long ago it was 80°F feeling like August, today starting out in the mid 30’s feeling like December. Somehow it seems we have skipped over the 60°F and 70°F normally associated with fall season.

Despite the finicky weather, there are still many fall chores that can be accomplished at this time of year. As frost and freeze warnings will soon become the norm, many sensitive plants will have to be taken inside or removed. If you still would like some fall color you can plant mums, cabbages, or kales.

Fertilizing lawns in the fall is extremely beneficial and I highly recommend it. If you have an ant or grub problem, those treatments may still be able to be made but are probably best left to a professional applicator. If you are going to do your own lawn treatments, no matter what the product is or the time of year, you must always read the label to make sure that you are making the application correctly. It may sound silly, but reading the label two or even three times is better than just once. You might be surprised what you get in the second or third read that you glanced over in the first. What’s that old carpenter’s adage? Measure twice, cut once.

Of course, fall leaf clean ups are going to be necessary. I highly recommend
that you do you fall leaf clean ups on a weekly basis. This may sound like a lot of work but there are some advantages to doing your fall leaf clean ups on a frequent basis as opposed to just when you find the energy.

Just like shoveling snow, cleaning leaves can be hard work. If you had a foot of snow, and shoveled it only at the end of the snow storm you would be lifting and pushing 12” of snow. if you went out twice, 6”, or 3 times only 4” of snow per shoveling. So if you are hand raking or even with modern equipment, there is still an advantage to frequent leaf cleaning.

Another important factor is that if leaves remain on the lawn area long enough, they reduce the grass plants ability to breathe. Leaves that remain on the lawn for very long periods of time can start to lower the pH of the soil which is not healthy for your lawn.

I believe this is some good general information about fall landscaping for your to do list. Please feel free to share this blog with your friends and family. Of course if you feel you need some additional help we at Keep It Green Landscaping are here for you.

For more information about our Leaf Cleanups services please see our page or give us a call at 201-445-4646 to set up a free consultation.