Fall is the winding down season for outdoor work and plants, but that doesn’t mean planting is over! There is a lot of flora and fauna to enjoy during the fall, and much clean up to do to prepare for the long sleep in winter and the big wake up in spring! We’ve provided you with our very own checklist for your landscape’s fall maintenance needs:

Early and Mid September

• Plant your fall colors now to enjoy them to the fullest throughout the autumn season. Mums, asters, ornamental cabbage and kale, pansies—many different colors and styles exist within each of these varieties. The later you plant them, the closer to the frost you are getting and you will have less time to enjoy the warm hues of fall.

• If your summer annual plants are not looking that great anymore, take them out. We find that by this time of year, many annuals are beginning to look tired. Plant your fall colors instead!

• Order or purchase your bulbs for your spring color—yes, it is too early to plant them, but you will be able to pick from a full stock while the best choices are still available.

• If your lawn has suffered from summer dry periods and needs some restoration, consult your lawn professional. Regrowing a yard requires a different fertilizer than when you are feeding an established lawn. Also, going into winter you will want to fortify your grass in preparation for spring regrowth.

Late September

• If you need to do lawn renovation of any kind to get your turf back in shape, such as overseeding, aeration or dethatching, now is the time for it. The fall climate of warm days and cool evenings is perfect for growing grass. The extra rain in late September is nice too. Warm ground helps seeds germinate and roots regenerate after aeration or dethatching.

October

• If they haven’t already, the leaves will be falling in droves in October. Different trees lose their foliage at different times. Stay on top of leaf clean up so your lawn won’t be smothered over the winter. Leaves around larger perennials, especially evergreen shrubs, will kill them. At least by the time we get a hard freeze, take out your annuals, remove the debris in your beds, and pick up all of your leaves for a healthier landscape in the spring.

• Now may be a good time to lay high-quality dyed mulch for the winter—then you are all set for spring.

• Plant those bulbs now for spring color. Make sure temps have cooled off before you do this; bulbs need a short cooling period to keep them dormant until spring. Otherwise they will bloom now and you won’t have any spring color! You can plant bulbs up to mid-November.

November

• November is the month for final clean ups. Once everything has gone to sleep, you can do some pruning on some of your plants. November through March is when we do our dormant pruning. You do not want to dormant prune every plant because you could be removing your spring flowers. Make sure you consult a professional before you cut!

• Make sure to complete your fall fertilization for the lawn and for the beds, giving you a jumpstart for spring growth and root strengthening. You want your landscape to sleep well and wake up happy!

Our best advice for you may be this last tip: If you want to bring in a professional to help you with your fall maintenance, make sure to schedule these services at least a month out before you need them! Give the Eagleson Landscape Team a call at (317)997-4803 or send us an email.