Blog | Fall Landscaping Tips to Make Your Yard Look Amazing!
Fall is finally here! There’s no better time to spruce up your yard and make it look amazing. Get creative with your landscaping this fall to take advantage of the changing leaves, late-blooming flowers, and crisp weather.
Here are some of our favorite fall landscaping tips to get you started.
Remove Garden Waste
Make sure to clean up your garden waste this fall. Leaves that accumulate on your lawn will compost naturally, so have them removed before winter arrives. This is also a good time of year for tidying up the perennials that have bloomed and died back. Once you’ve completed these tasks, get ready for an amazing new look next spring!
Turning/Adding Mulch and Rock
When the fall months hit, it’s time to start thinking about your fall landscaping needs. This time of year, we turn and add a layer of mulch and rock over our soil. Mulching is a good idea for gardeners or those who don’t enjoy heavy lifting during the off-season.
For the best aesthetic this season, try spreading dark rocks on top of your mulch so that they show from underneath.
Pruning of Perennials
In the fall, it’s best to prune and tidy up any perennials that may have gotten out of control. Now is a good time to do the springtime-type maintenance that you don’t get around to in the spring because of all the other things going on. For perennials, try cutting them back by one-third so they can form bushy plants for next year, and then mulch heavily with leaves, straw, or shredded bark.
Mulch Leaves
Chances are, if you live in a deciduous area, it falls. Therefore, fall is an excellent time for homeowners to beautify their yards with landscaping tips. For example, one excellent way to beautify your yard is by mulching leaves and adding them under your tree or shrubs.
Another way to give your property the fall touch is by taking a few weekends this month and washing down any leaves accumulated on top of the driveway with a power washer.
Spend Time on Cleaning and Sealing Hardscapes
Cleaning your hardscape surface before sealing will provide a smoother, more durable surface, and it is also one of the best ways to protect it from staining. To clean your hardscape surface, mix two parts of water with one part of bleach in a bucket. Next, use a stiff-bristled brush and scrub the hardscape in circular motions until the cleaner becomes clear. Rinse well and follow up with soap and water before rinsing well again.
Dividing Perennials
Dig the hole twice as wide and just as deep as the plant’s root ball. Create a mound, or berm, of soil in the bottom of your hole that extends several inches beyond the edge of the root ball. Plant on top of this berm, filling in the dirt around and under the roots but not too tightly. Finish by watering thoroughly, paying particular attention to getting plenty of water down into any remaining dry pockets in your freshly-mounded soil.
Shrubs and Trees
Late summer and early fall are the perfect times of year to enjoy more time outdoors, with the sun setting a little earlier and kids getting out of school. One way to make your yard look even better than it already does is by adding shade trees or shrubs. They’re low-maintenance, don’t require a lot of space, and add an airy look that opens up the yard.
Transplanting Current Plants to New Areas
To make your yard look its best during the fall, transplant your existing plants to new areas. This is an easy and inexpensive way to switch up your landscaping while keeping it just as lively.
Start by mapping out the different spaces you want in your yard. Decide if you want all of them in one location or separated into separate areas, such as a front, back, and side yard, or maybe you have several outdoor patios that need some landscaping.
Final Thoughts
Landscape professionals and homeowners have many options for planning their yards for fall. These tips will help you make the most of your yard this season, and the Miller Creek Lawn and Landscape experts are always happy to help!