Autumn is an amazing time here in New England when the trees put on a spectacular display and the weather cooperates with mild, sunny days and crystal clear nights. It is temping to sit back and enjoy the show but that could be a big mistake for your landscaping and hardscaping. Fall is a time to finish up all the needed tasks in the yard, garden and patio. Here are some suggestions to help you avoid common fall landscaping mistakes.
- Hardscaping Issues– Many homeowners overlook walkways, stairs and patio hardscape when they are doing the fall rake up and clean up. Fall is a great time to thoroughly clean and power wash all brick and stonework not only for beauty but for function as well. This is a good time to carefully inspect for cracks, chips and damage that will need to be replaced or repaired.
- Giving Up on Raking – While raking leaves for the umpteenth time it would be easy to forget about places where leaves to collect like walkways and stairs. Excess fallen leaves can hide sidewalk or walkways that are in disrepair, or can get wet and becomes slippery underfoot. This mistake could be painful or lead to injury if you or a member of your family have an accident due to slippery leaves.
- Neglected Yard Tools – Most people falsely believe that all the outdoor gardening and landscaping is over when the winter rolls around. Late fall is a great time to maintain all tools and equipment you use in your yard. Cleaning, inspecting and repairing any broken tools is a good idea to be sure they are in proper working order for the next season.
- Ignoring your Lawn – Fall means your lawn is getting ready to go dormant for the winter. A lawn that is properly fertilized and given one last watering will fair far better through the freezing winter. A last mowing is also in order.
