We can’t fight it much longer – the crisp air is setting in and the days are getting shorter – it’s time to think about preparing your yard for the long Maine winter ahead. Taking a few important steps now will protect your lawn, gardens, and landscaping throughout the winter, and ensure everything bounces back healthy and strong come spring.
Here’s a guide to what homeowners can do before the snow flies:
Shut Down the Garden
Whether providing vegetables for your family or beautiful flowers for your table, it’s time to give gardens a cleanout and proper rest. Closing down your vegetable and flower beds the right way helps prevent disease, protects perennials, and enriches the soil for next year’s growing season.
Once the harvest is complete, it’s important to clean up your vegetable and flower beds:
- Remove spent plants and weeds. Old plant material shouldn’t be left to rot in place. It can harbor pests and diseases. Pull everything out and either compost it or dispose of it properly.
- Add organic matter. A layer of compost, mulch, or chopped leaves helps enrich the soil and protect it from erosion over the winter.
- Protect perennials. Cut back perennials that have finished blooming, leaving about 2–3 inches of stem. For tender perennials, apply mulch to insulate the roots.
Prep the Lawn
Usually come fall, the last thing anyone wants to think about is their lawn, but a little attention now pays big dividends later. Fall is actually an excellent time to give lawns some TLC. By mowing, feeding, and protecting your grass before winter dormancy, you’ll be setting the stage for a lush, green lawn that wakes up happy in the spring.
Your grass can benefit from a little care before winter dormancy:
- Final mow. Keep grass at about 2.5–3 inches before the ground freezes. Cutting it too short weakens roots; leaving it too long invites matting and mold.
- Rake or mulch leaves. Thick mats of leaves can smother your lawn. Mulching with a mower is a great way to return nutrients back to the soil. If not mulching grass, rake loose leaves from your lawn before piles begin to decay and kill the grass beneath.
- Fertilize. A late-fall fertilizer application gives your grass essential nutrients to store over winter.
- Aerate and overseed. If you have bare spots from the dry summer, or a less than perfect lawn, fall is the best time to aerate compacted soil and/or seed lawns. Aeration will help necessary moisture and nutrients reach grass roots, and overseed for a thicker, healthier lawn in the spring.
Protect Trees and Shrubs
Your trees and shrubs are long-term investments in your landscape. While the more rugged companions to your yard, they still need protection from winter’s harsh conditions. A few simple steps can reduce storm damage, prevent animal chewing, and give your woody plants a healthier start in spring.
Winter can be hard on your trees and shrubs, but a little prep can prevent damage:
- Prune selectively. Remove any dead or damaged branches. Hold off on major pruning until late winter or early spring.
- Wrap young trees. Burlap or tree wrap protects bark from sunscald, wind, and critters.
- Mulch around the base. A few inches of mulch insulates roots and helps retain moisture. Never create a “volcano” or cover the base of a tree or shrub above the root collar with mulch.
Prepare Hardscaping and Outdoor Features
Last, but not least is attending to the features that make your yard more convenient and comfortable. Outdoor furniture, hoses, and hardscaping all need a little winter prep too. Taking the time to clean, drain, and cover these items will protect them from damage, preserve your investment, and make your spring setup much easier.
Don’t forget the non-living parts of your landscape:
- Drain hoses and irrigation. Frozen water can cause cracks, leaks, and expensive repairs. Disconnect, drain and store hoses, and blow out irrigation lines. Turn off outdoor faucets to prevent frozen pipes.
- Cover outdoor furniture. Protect patio sets, grills, and fire pits to extend their lifespan.
- Clean walkways and driveways. Clear away summer accessories to prevent staining and make snow removal easier come winter.
Why Fall Prep Matters
Remember how the first warm day in spring makes you want to immediately get outside and enjoy it? Think of being able to do that next spring with everything neatly tucked away and clean so all you have to do is pull out a chair and enjoy!
Spending a little time now will save you headaches in the spring. A yard that’s been “tucked in” properly will need less repair, less cleanup, bounce back faster, and look healthier. Working outside in the fall is less buggy and tends to be cooler, making working conditions more pleasant. Plus, fall prep protects your investment in landscaping, trees, and gardens.
Need a Hand?
If all of this sounds like a lot of work, AC Yard Services is here to help. From that final mowing, to pruning or lawn aeration or overseeding – we can help make sure your yard is ready for winter – and ready to shine in the spring.
