The leaves are beginning to change and despite highs in the 80s last week, fall is here and winter is just around the corner. Wisconsin winters can be tough on your lawn, garden and outdoor equipment. Before the snow starts falling, it’s important to get your yard ready for winter with a thorough fall cleanup.
Fall Outdoor Cleanup & Care Check List
Each new season brings its own list of chores. At Couple More Guys™, we’d like to help you with your fall chore list by providing you with a fall cleanup check list.
Leave Raking, Mulching & Composting
You may have heard the phrase “leave the leaves” but that doesn’t mean you have to neglect your lawn. You have lots of options when it comes to leaves that can leave your lawn looking great and benefit wildlife.
Leaf Removal
Thick layers of wet leaves can smother and kill grass. They can also become a haven for pests, so you don’t want them left up against your home. Large amounts of leaves should be cleared from around your home and lawn and raked into piles which can be moved to a compost pile, used in garden beds as a natural mulch, left in a quiet corner for insects and small animals to utilize over winter, or bagged and removed.
Leaf Mulching
For lighter leaf coverage, mulching is a great option. A mulching lawn mower can be used to shred the leaves into fine flakes which can be left on your lawn to act as a natural fertilizer.
Firewood Stacking & Storing
Whether your home is heated by a wood burning stove or your wood pile is just for recreational fires, it’s crucial stack and store it correctly for burning.
Stacking Firewood
To allow for proper drying, firewood should be stacked loosely in a well-ventilated area. You’ll want to keep it off the ground with a pallet or runners to ensure proper airflow and prevent rot.
Cover the Top
To keep your stacked firewood dry and protected from rain and snow, use a tarp to cover the top only. The sides should remain exposed to sunlight and wind for proper drying.
Fall Garden Prep
A little work in your garden in the fall can make for an easier spring and a bigger harvest later.
Clean Up Your Beds
Remove old plant debris, dead foliage and weeds from your garden beds. This will help to prevent disease and pest issues over the winter. But be sure to leave ornamental grasses and seed heads for pollinators.
Nourish Your Soil
Fall’s a great time to add compost and mulch to enrich your soil, suppress weeds and retain moister, getting it replenished with nutrients before your spring planting.
Prune & Divide Plants
Wait for leaves to drop, then cut back dead or diseased branches from any of your trees and shrubs. Divide your spring and early summer-blooming perennials like hostas and daylilies.
Plant for Spring
Plant your spring flowering bulbs, like tulips and daffodils, between late September and mid-October before the ground freezes.
Fall Lawn & Yard Work
Most yard work and landscaping tasks are done in the summer, but there are few tasks that should be done each fall so your lawn is set to look great next year.
Final Cut
Give your lawn one last mow before winter, cutting it down to 1-2 inches to help prevent matting and snow mold.
Aerate Your Lawn
Reduce soil compaction and improve air and water flow to the roots of your grass by aerating it in the fall.
Patch Bare Spots
Fall is a great time to fix thin and bare spots in your lawn. First, rake the soil the add a lawn repair mix and keep it watered until you see new growth.
Outdoor Equipment & General Winterizing
Before freezing temps arrive, take some time this fall to clean up and put away your outdoor equipment, furniture and decorations. Doing this now will keep it in good shape and ready for use in the spring.
Gutters & Downspouts
Remove leaves and debris from your gutters. Properly draining gutters will help prevent ice dams from forming in the winter.
Sprinklers & Hoses
Drain and shut off water to your outdoor sprinkler systems and hoses. For in-ground systems, you may need an air compressor to blow out the lines. Insulate any exposed pipes or spigots, clean and store your garden hoses, nozzles and sprinklers for the season.
Tools & Equipment
Clean, sharpen and oil your garden tools before storing them in a dry place for the winter. It’s a good idea to change the oil, clean your filters and add a fuel stabilizer to your gas-powered equipment, like your lawnmower, before storing it.
Outdoor Furniture
Clean and store your outdoor patio furniture and décor or cover it to protect it from the elements.
Snow Removal Marking
Before it snows, it’s a good idea to mark the edges of your driveway, sidewalks and other pathways that will need to cleared of snow and ice this winter. It’s also a good time to check to make sure your outdoor lights are working properly and replace any burnt-out bulbs.
Tackle Your Fall to do List with a Couple More Guys
We can help with the heavy, labor-intensive and time-sensitive seasonal tasks in and around your home or business. From leaf bagging and hauling your seasonal furniture to and from storage to snow removal this winter, our two-person crews are insured, experienced and ready to help you get your seasonal tasks done easier, faster and safer. Schedule a crew online.