Fall Yard Prep: Put Your Yard to Bed Properly for a Better Spring
Fall yard work is about more than cleaning up leaves. It’s your chance to protect the lawn and garden you worked on all season, help plants head into winter in better shape and take care of a few jobs that can make spring easier.
The key is doing the right work at the right time. Lawn-care needs vary by grass type and climate, while garden beds, landscaping and tools all benefit from a little attention before winter arrives.
Use these tips to work through your fall yard prep, then download the Fall Yard & Garden Shopping List before you head to your Rocky’s Ace Hardware for supplies.
Stay Ahead of Leaves and Keep Mowing
Your mower may still have some work to do even when the leaves start falling. Continue mowing while your grass is actively growing and follow the recommended mowing height for your type of lawn. Avoid cutting off too much at once.
At the same time, keep heavy leaf cover from sitting on the grass. A light layer of leaves can often be chopped with a mulching mower. When leaves begin to pile up, rake, blow or collect them before they become wet and matted.
Collected leaves can also be useful around the yard. Healthy leaves can be composted or used where appropriate in garden beds. Follow local guidelines for any leaves or yard debris you plan to dispose of.
Feed and Repair the Lawn at the Right Time
Fall can be an important lawn-care window, but the right treatment depends on where you live and what type of grass you have.
For many cool-season lawns, late summer into fall is a good time to strengthen turf and repair thin or bare areas. A properly timed fall lawn food can support root development before winter, while grass seed or a lawn repair mix can help fill in problem spots when there is enough growing time left in the season.
If you follow Scotts® 4-Step Annual Program, it’s time for the Step 4 Winterizer Lawn Food for All Grasses. Regional fertilizers may also be helpful. Scotts® Winterguard may also be beneficial for lawns in the Northeast, while Scotts® Southern Weed & Feed prepares Florida yards for heat and drought.
Warm-season lawns follow a different schedule. Before fertilizing or overseeding, make sure the treatment is recommended for your grass and local conditions.
Not sure what your yard needs? Bring your questions to Rocky’s. Our team can help you find the right lawn food, seed or repair product for your lawn and region.
Helpful Tip: Measure your lawn before you shop. Knowing the approximate square footage will make it easier to choose the right amount of fertilizer, seed or lawn repair product. Always follow product label directions.
Keep Watering When Your Yard Needs It
Cooler days can mean less watering, but that does not mean every lawn or landscape is ready to go without it.
Watch rainfall and soil conditions throughout fall. Newly seeded areas need consistent moisture while grass establishes. New trees, shrubs and other landscape plants may also need supplemental water during dry weather.
Adjust watering to local conditions and requirements rather than following a summer schedule all the way into winter.
Prepare Garden Beds for Winter
A little cleanup now can give garden beds a cleaner, healthier start next season. Remove spent annuals, weeds and diseased plant material. Cut back perennials when it is appropriate for the plant but remember that not every healthy stem or seed head needs to disappear in fall.
This is also a good time to refresh mulch where needed. Mulch helps protect root zones and keep soil temperatures and moisture levels more consistent. Keep it pulled back from plant crowns, shrub stems and tree trunks rather than piling it directly against them.
If your garden soil could use additional organic matter, fall may also be a convenient time to work compost or another recommended amendment into your bed-prep plans.
Protect Plants, Shrubs and Trees
Take a walk around your landscape and give newer or more exposed plants a closer look:
- If fall is dry, newly planted trees and shrubs may need additional water before cold weather settles in.
- Check the mulch around root zones and correct any areas where it has piled against stems or trunks.
- Plants exposed to strong winter winds, road salt or animal damage may benefit from guards or other seasonal protection.
- Choose protection based on the plant and local conditions rather than wrapping everything in the yard the same way.
Plant Next Spring’s Color This Fall
Some of spring’s best garden moments start months before the first flower appears. Spring-blooming bulbs such as tulips, daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths are planted in fall in climates where they are suited. That gives them the cold period and growing cycle they need before emerging the following spring.
Choose healthy bulbs and follow package directions for planting depth and spacing. Look for a well-drained location that suits the light needs of the variety, then water after planting.
Bulb performance and chilling requirements vary by climate, so choose varieties appropriate for your area. Our Rocky’s team can help you find bulbs and planting supplies that fit your spring plans.
Clean Tools Before You Store Them
Your fall yard prep should include the tools that helped you get through the season. Brush away soil and clippings, dry tools thoroughly and inspect cutting edges for wear. Sharpen or replace blades where needed and address rust or damage before storage.
For mowers, blowers and other power equipment, follow the manufacturer’s directions for seasonal maintenance, fuel care and battery storage.
This is also a good time to make note of worn blades, filters, trimmer line or other replacement parts. Taking care of them now means fewer surprises when yard work starts again.
Plan for Spring While Your Yard Is Fresh in Your Mind
Before you call the season finished, take one last walk around the yard. Where did the lawn thin out? Which beds need more color? Is there a drainage problem you want to address? Does a shrub need to be moved or replaced?
Take a few photos or make a short list. Those notes can make spring project planning easier and help you get the right supplies when it is time to get outside again.
Fall Yard & Garden Checklist
- Keep mowing while the lawn is actively growing
- Mulch, rake or collect heavy leaf cover
- Apply fall lawn food when recommended for your grass and region
- Seed or repair thin areas when local timing is right
- Water lawn, new seed and landscape plants as needed
- Clean garden beds and remove diseased debris
- Refresh mulch without piling it against stems or trunks
- Protect vulnerable plants, shrubs and trees where needed
- Plant spring-blooming bulbs suited to your climate
- Clean, maintain and store lawn and garden tools
- Make notes for next spring’s projects
Get Your Yard Ready with Help from Rocky’s
Not sure which fertilizer, seed, mulch or bulb varieties fit your yard? Stop by your neighborhood Rocky’s Ace Hardware. Our team can help you find the right supplies for your lawn, garden and local growing conditions to make fall yard prep a breeze.
Download and print the Fall Yard & Garden Shopping List, check off what you need and bring it with you to Rocky’s. Put your yard to bed the right way this fall and you’ll wake up to a better spring.