As autumn approaches, there are a few things that must be done in the yard to ensure that you have a clean, blank canvas to start with in the following spring. Much of how your lawn and garden will do the following year depends on how you prepare it for the winter, especially if you live in a climate that sees a lot of rain, snow, or cold harsh temperatures over the winter months. Here are a few basics that should be done after you’ve put away the summer toys and patio furniture.
Raking leaves is an endless job at this time of year and although you want to make sure that you gather as many of the leaves as possible, don’t worry about random leaves that make their way to your garden. They can actually benefit the soil as they break down and provide insulation. Be sure to ask your city or town what to do with the leaves. Often during this time of year, they will have special leaf pick-up dates where they will come and pick up your leaves for you. You can also put the leaves you gather in your compost and keep them for the following year. Try to shred them with the lawnmower before placing them in the compost as it will help them break down quicker.
Also give your lawn one last cut before the snow comes. As snow sits on the grass over the winter months, it will rot your lawn and keeping the grass as short as possible will help prevent this rotting and will have less surface space for moisture to gather on. You can also place the lawn clippings into your compost for the following spring. Once you have cut the grass, make sure to fertilize it heavily with a high-phosphorus mix. This will help keep the roots of the grass healthy over the winter and in the spring, it will lead to greener grass sooner.
Make sure to completely empty your garden of perennials and vegetable plants that will die just before winter. It’s ideal to have separate areas for your winter and summer gardens for this reason because a summer garden should be completely cleared over the winter. This will help the soil recover and return to its natural state before you plant the new crop in the summer. It will also help when summer comes and you need to rotate certain crops from the prior year. Tomatoes for instance, should not be planted in the same spot two years in a row as it makes them susceptible to stunted growth and disease.