Monthly Archives: October 2018

Top Tips for Getting Your Yard Ready for Winter

Posted on by

Getting your fall lawn and garden chores taking care of before winter isn’t always a priority.

Staying motivated to work in the yard and garden can be a little hard during this time of year. After a successful summer, it’s tempting to assume the yard can sit until things warm up again, but if you want another eye-catching lawn and garden next summer, it’s important to winterize your garden and flower beds before it gets too cold.

fall lawn

There are a number of late fall chores that can prepare your yard for a stunning year to come. Let’s take a quick look at some of the tasks that should be done before the snow hits the ground.

Essential fall lawn and garden care

During the fall months, you should at least try to maintain the health of your lawn. It’s fine if you don’t have the time or energy to improve things but try not to let your yard slide backward.

Weeding

A great place to start with fall lawn and garden care is by removing broadleaf weeds so they aren’t competing for nutrients and water. Avoid composting weeds, especially if they have already gone to seed. If a weed is particularly noxious, you may need to burn it to kills any seed and avoid it spreading.

fall lawn

Soil

Fall is also a great time to have soil tests done to check the acidity of your soil. It’s often possible to find a local business or organization that will do a soil test for you. In Minnesota, you can send a soil sample into the University of Minnesota for a small fee.

If your soil is acidic, applying lime can correct the problem (lime takes a while to start working in the soil so fall is a great time to apply). Alkaline soils can benefit from an application of sulfur.

Leaves

Everyone knows that its good to rake leaves in the autumn, but not many know why it is important. Removing the layers of leaves that accumulate in the autumn will help prevent bald spots in your lawn. Of course, raking or using a leaf blower are both good options, but you can also mow them with your lawn mower if you have a bagging attachment. Removing excess leaves from sidewalks, driveways and streets also prevent the nitrogen found in leaves from making their way into our local waterways.

Call Great Goats

Great Goats Landscaping is here to help you wrap up your fall yard and garden chores and to plan for next year’s landscaping projects. Give Mike and the team at Great Goats Landscaping a call today to see how we can help you create the yard you’ve been dreaming of.

Our Top Fall Checklist

Posted on by

With the leaves changing and the temps dropping, there is no denying that the cooler months are upon us.

deck or patio

Fall Checklist

Here’s a quick checklist to help you make sure that your yard and garden are ready for winter.

Prep your patio and deck

Taking care of your patio furniture and other outdoor items is the best way to make sure they last for a long time. Clean and cover patio furniture, empty ashes from the grill and store it, and drain fountains or ponds.

landscaping rocks

Lawn maintenance

Fall leaves are fun to play in and are beautiful, but leaving too many on the ground can kill grass and lead to bare spots.

A light blanket of leaves can safely be mowed and left to mulch on grass. A heavier covering of leaves should be raked and disposed of.

Clean gutters and downspouts

Clogged gutters can cause serious problems like basement flooding, wood rot, staining of siding and even cracked foundations. The best time to clean gutters and downspouts is in the fall after trees have dropped the majority of their leaves.

Store hoses and turn-off exterior water

A little work in the fall can prevent expensive water damage down the road. When water freezes in pipes or hoses, it can expand and cause ruptures and leaks. Drain and store any hoses and close any exterior water spigots on your home.

checklist

Plant trees and bulbs

Fall is the best time to plant shrubs, trees, and bulbs that will flower in the spring. Tulips, crocuses, daffodils, and other spring flowers should all be planted approximately six weeks before the first hard freeze.

The best time to plant trees is when they are dormant, usually in the fall when their leaves have fallen. Planting in the autumn will give the tree roots time to establish themselves before new growth is stimulated. Bare-root trees, especially, should only be planted from October through April.