Chilly days and nights herald the arrival of fall – a time for homeowners to put the yard and garden to bed before the snow flies so that everything springs back to life in the best shape possible come next April.
The home and garden departments at the local big box stores have an abundance of trimmers, rakes, leaf bags etc. to help with the clean up and experts say there’s no place like starting at the top. The Home Depot recommends using ladders and extension poles to prune trees, trim hedges and clean house gutters – it’s good sanitation that will result in fewer problems next spring. For gutters, scoop gunk and debris – especially once leaves have fallen off your trees – and clear it with a garden hose to ensure proper roof drainage. Likewise, trimming overgrown and dead branches and limbs from trees will prevent any from weakening and falling under winter snow, thus staving off possible roof damage.
Once the barbecue parties have slowed and guests aren’t an every-weekend occurrence, it’s time to clean and stain the deck for next year. Choosing a weatherproof stain will help protect against harsh winter conditions, and keep moisture out.
Down at garden level, experts recommend a compost bin, where homeowners can add dead and blackened flowers and plants during fall cleanup. Remember to remove plant stems that have diseased foliage to avoid the spread of weeds or fungi, said homedepot.ca. The flower garden should get a clean sweep, say experts, to avoid the warm environment that weeds and spent plants offer for bacteria or for insects to lay eggs. And after the clear out, your garden will surely appreciate some fertilizer, compost and organic topsoil tilled into the weary earth, topped with pine bark mulch until next Spring.
After clearing the garden and flowerpots and trimming dead branches from shrubs, spend a few minutes to wipe tools clean, say experts. A little maintenance now will preserve your tools for a long time to come if you remove debris and dirt and then apply a light layer of oil to keep tools from rusting during the cold weather months.
Local companies are doing a brisk business with lawn cleanup – raking, mowing, fertilizing and over-seeding lawns. This year in particular, with lawns, trees and shrubs stressed from dry heat and lack of rain, it’s wise to put nutrients into the soil with deep root fertilizing, according to Edward Ramsden, owner of Enviro Masters Lawn Care in St. Albert.
“This is the time for a last application of slow-release fertilizer, and to over seed lawns with a more drought-resistant grass mix,” said Ramsden. “If daytime temperatures are above 15 degrees, you can still spray for weed control too. Most people aerate the lawn in spring, but doing it this fall will only help get moisture and nutrients into the soil – it gives your lawn a head start come Spring.”
Many handyman-type services operate in St. Albert, offering one-time fall yard clean-up services. Paul Armusch of Clean Green Contracting, for example, offers power raking, lawn mowing, aeration and fertilizer services at this busy time of year, giving the lawn a chance to breathe and rejuvenate before winter.
Ramsden advocates mowing the lawn to a higher height to trap moisture and provide shade, while leaf raking provides a clean canvas for next year. “If leaves stay on the lawn, you have a wet layer that can contribute to fungus and snow mould – it becomes an impenetrable mat – so rake leaves before the snow flies,” he said.
Ramsden said once leaves start to turn colour, it’s a good reminder to start the fall yard care. “Whatever you can do now for next year is all for the good – it shuts your yard down properly and gives the trees, shrubs and lawn a better start in Spring.”
