Fall brings stunning colors and crisp, invigorating days. But it also brings a carpet of fallen leaves, naked trees and shrubs, and the warning of winter's cold embrace. And that means a lot of yard work.
Here are a few tips for fall yard care and preparing for winter.
- Fertilize your lawn.
Apply winter lawn fertilizer by mid November. Your lawn will get a much needed boost when spring arrives. - Winterize faucets and hoses.
- Disconnect and drain outdoor hoses.
- Turn off and drain outdoor faucets - if your outdoor faucets have an indoor valve, turn it off and then open the outdoor faucet to drain excess water.
- Protect and insulate outdoor faucets with hose bib covers. They are inexpensive, easy to find at hardware and home stores and easy to install.
- Winterize your sprinkler system.
If you have a sprinkler system, do the following: - Turn off the water at the main valve.
- Turn off the automatic controller.
- Turn on each valve, including the backflow valve, and let them release their pressure.
- Mulch or compost leaves.
Before the temperatures drop, the leaves fall. It means extra work but also free fertilizer. - Don't rake... Mulch. You can use your lawn mover to mulch leaves right into your lawn. You may need several passes of your mower to break the leaves down to dime-size pieces. Nature will do the rest and, come spring, your grass will be greener then ever.
- Rake and compost. If you choose not to mulch, rake and compost leaves, especially from diseased trees, to create rich, garden soil for spring planting.
Following these tips will keep your lawn healthy and could save you a big expense.
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