1. Weed
Getting rid of those pesky weeds now will make your lawn and garden a much happier place come spring. Many perennial weeds germinate in the fall so getting rid of them now will prevent them from popping up again in the spring.
2. Plant
We all see the garden centre pop-ups in the spring but fall is actually a great time to plant new trees, hedging, shrubs and perennials too! Nature takes care of the regular watering new plants need so if you have a tendency to avoid watering (due to restrictions or forgetfulness), it’s time to let the rain do the work.
If you love tulips, daffodils and all those other stunning spring flowers, now is the time to plant these bulbs. Experts say you should plant bulbs 6 weeks before your soil freezes. Obviously that day changes every year but if you plant during the month of October, you should be good.
For those that like to plant things to eat, it’s almost time to plant your garlic, winter peas and fall rye.
3. Love your Lawn
If your lawn has poor drainage, this is the time of year to aerate and apply coarse sand. You’ll also want to apply winterizing fertilizer and lime but make sure you do not do all of this on the same day. You want to space out any treatments you give your lawn by 3-4 “mows”.
4. Clean Garden Waste
Once your annuals, fruit and veggie plants have finished, get rid of them. No one wants to look at your brown hanging baskets. Rake up fallen leaves but don’t get rid of all of them…
5. Mulch
Fallen leaves make great/free mulch for your vegetable garden and rose bushes.
6. Keep watering (if you need to)
If it’s a dry fall, it is still important to keep watering your plants. Especially newly planted trees and shrubs as they need regular watering to properly establish.
7. Turn off the water
As we begin to see frost later in the fall, it’s a good idea to turn off the outdoor water connections and drain the hose. Put your hose and any clay pots in storage for the winter to prevent damage and cracking.
Leave a Reply