It’s Fall Clean-Up Time!

With the autumn season comes a variety of changes. The air gets cooler, the leaves begin to turn colors, and your landscape starts to take on an entirely different look. Of course, with the fall, there is also the need for some vital seasonal clean-up that should not be overlooked. Ignoring fall clean-up will not only detract from the overall aesthetics of your property but it can do potential damage as well. By failing to clean up your property before the approaching winter, you could create unnecessary problems within your landscape.

Let’s take a look at some of the most important fall clean-up services and why they shouldn’t be ignored.

 

Tidying Your Plants

Come fall, you may want to think about trimming up some of your plants that may start to look unkempt come winter. While there’s an argument to be made for leaving your ornamental grasses long as we enter the cooler season—after all, they can offer some unique texture and color to a relatively barren landscape—some homeowners do not like the look of their grasses once snow starts to weigh them down. That heavy, wet snow that is common on the East Side of Cleveland can make ornamental grasses look matted down and messy. It can also make them more difficult to clean up in the spring.

While you can leave perennials in place, these plants can also start to look overgrown now that they are no longer blooming. Because the roots will survive underground, you might consider cutting back your perennials to keep your landscape looking trim. This should also help them come back strong and healthy in the spring.

Don’t forget that fall is also a great time for planting. While you want to be sure you’re cleaning up any flowers that are no longer in bloom, and have the potential to look messy, there are plenty of choices that will give you fall color such as mums and kale. It should not be forgotten that fall is also the only time to install bulbs. If you want spring color from flowers such as daffodils, lilies, or tulips, you need to plant them now.

 

Cleaning Up Debris

Another vital fall clean-up task is picking up leaves and debris. There’s no doubt that leaving fallen leaves around your property can create quite the eyesore. But you may not realize that fallen leaves and debris can also create problems in the winter. Leaves, branches, and other debris that is left in the yard can become covered in snow and encourage the growth of a fungal disease called snow mold. The matted leaves around your property also block out vital sunlight, which your lawn needs to survive. This can lead to bare patches where your grass has died.

It’s also worth mentioning that debris on your property is an invitation for rodents and other nesting animals to take shelter. It’s important that you take the time to clean up any yard debris before that first snow fall hits. Make sure to also cover the perimeter of your home so that you aren’t inviting pests to burrow in and potentially find their way into your basement in their quest for warmth and shelter.

 

Turning Off Your Irrigation System

Although you don’t need to fully winterize your system just yet by having the lines blown out, you’ll definitely want to shut it off. During the fall season we receive plenty of rainfall and your lawn will receive the water it needs naturally. Your lawn and plants should be self-sufficient by now and there should be no need for irrigation.

The only exception to this rule would be a newly installed lawn. If you do have a brand-new lawn, then you’ll want to continue watering even though you can run your system for a shorter period of time.

 

Executing a Final Mowing

Most people stop mowing too soon and that leaves their grass longer than it should be as we enter the colder months. It is problematic since leaving your grass on the long side can make it more prone to snow mold. This destructive fungus flourishes in thick and matted grass.

Plan to continue mowing right up until the point where your grass stops growing. This is typically the late fall—often as late as November depending on the weather.

When you do perform your final mow, opt for a lower height than you may have been doing the rest of the season. On average, you should plan to mow to about 2 or 2.5 inches for the winter season.

 

Handing it Over to the Pros

If all of the tasks involved in fall clean-up having you feel a bit overwhelmed, don’t worry. By choosing to hand some of these services over to professionals you can take the work off your plate and be able to spend your fall season participating in activities you actually enjoy. Whether it be a football game, apple or pumpkin picking with the family, or even just going for a hike or bike ride, the fact is, you’ll free up your weekend to do the things you love while the professionals handle your fall clean-up services for you.

Plus, you can feel confident that it’s done right. That means a thorough clean up job that will leave your property truly prepped for the winter season.

By choosing to work with Exscape Designs on your fall clean-up services, you’ll eliminate the hassles and invite the peace of mind that comes with receiving professional care. As a result, your property will not only look its best for the fall season, but it will be ready to deal with the harsh weather to come. You’ll prevent potential problems and you’ll help your landscape to bounce back more quickly come spring. It’s truly a win all around.

 

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