It’s the month of October, which traditionally is the time of year everyone switches into fall mode. Between school starting back up and pumpkin spice lattes all around, it’s hard to not anticipate the upcoming season change.

We know, however, there is plenty of warm weather ahead as we finish out the month. If you are mourning the start of the cold weather season, don’t fret, the sun is still shining for several more weeks.

With that said, it is a good time to start preparing for fall. Preparing your landscaping that is. You spent all spring and summer tending to your gardens, installing retaining walls, enjoying your patio or outdoor living space, and now it is time to start thinking about how you can prepare these spaces for winter.

As a landscaping company in Dayton, Ohio we know all about the care, time, and attention that goes into maintaining your outdoor spaces and landscape. Homeowners take a lot of pride in the upkeep of their lawn and landscape features and so do we!

In order to protect that hard work, there are several things you should be thinking about doing this fall for general maintenance and to set yourself up for success come next spring when everything starts to thaw.

Here are a few items we suggest you put on your fall landscaping project checklist before the frost comes.

Mow Your Lawn

We know it can be tempting to quit mowing your lawn as fall approaches. You have spent countless hours in the sun behind the mower all summer long and you are ready for a break. It is really important however to not give up mowing too early in the season. You want your grass to be fresh and healthy when that first frost or snowfall arrives.

Rake Your Lawn

Raking leaves is a fun and exciting task for those who enjoy jumping in them when they are done. If that’s not your thing, check out our post about why it is important to rake your leaves. If you want even more purpose behind raking, you could try shredding your leaves and utilizing it as mulch for your landscaping and trees for an extra nutrient boost for winter.

Clean Out Debris

Along with raking, be sure to clean out leaves and other debris from garden beds, gutters, along the edge of your house, on your patio. Any of those smaller nooks and crannies that can be forgotten. If you don’t, they may become excellent and cozy nesting spots for critters throughout the winter.

Dry Everything Out

Take the time to properly put away all your summer equipment from kids play toys, pools, and sprinklers to hoses and outdoor patio furniture and decor. Be sure everything is clean and dry before storage to prevent mold growth or damage.

Give One Last Trim

Taking the time to trim up your bushes and trees in the fall can really set you up for success come spring. It will also prevent extra branches or overgrown bushes from being damaged or falling by heavy snowfall.

Update Your Landscaping

Believe it not, fall is a great time to update your landscaping and even plant new flowers, shrubs, and bulbs. There are plenty of plant varieties that actually grow best when planted in the fall. Many plants can also be planted in the fall to prepare for the spring and summer season.

Additionally, the fall can be a great time to divide and replant flowers and bushes that did exceptionally well this year to spread the love for next year.

All this can be done with the help of our landscaping professionals. We know exactly which plants will thrive in the fall or can help you divide and redesign your landscape to be prepped for spring. Feel free to reach out to us today with any question you may have on fall landscaping needs.