Fall is always a busy time. So busy that it's tempting to forget about the yard until spring. Problem is, if you wait until spring, your yard just doesn't have the get-up-and-grow you expect. If you have 15 minutes here and there throughout the fall, here are 15 easy things you can do that will make a big difference come spring.
The difference between a "so-so" lawn and a truly beautiful lawn both now and next spring is two fall feedings. Feeding in early September helps your lawn begin rebuilding grass roots that were damaged during the hot, dry summer. Since this is also a great time to kill lawn weeds, do two jobs at once by using a good weed and feed, such as Scotts® Winter Guard® with Plus 2® Weed Control.
When kids play on a lawn that's still hurting from summer heat and drought, it can get damaged. Spruce it up by reseeding with quality Scotts® grass seed and a fertilizer, such as Scotts® Starter® Fertilizer, the day you seed. After that, just keep the seed and young grass watered, and hold off on any weed controls until the new grass has been mowed 4 times.
Create patches of color in your beds with fall bloomers. Replace your tired looking summer blooming plants with mums, asters, pansies, flowering cabbage and other fall bloomers. Look for special displays at your local garden center. Just add Miracle-Gro® Potting Mix to your containers for big blooms.
Your perennials may be past their bloom by now. Your vegetable garden may be done. If so, cut them back. You'll help keep bugs and disease away. While you're at it, use what you cut to start a compost pile.
Bugs and spiders start looking for a warm place to live as winter approaches. Kill bugs inside and keep bugs out with Ortho® Home Defense MAX® Insect Killer for Indoor & Perimeter1.
Don't let tree leaves smother your grass. Contrary to popular belief, fallen tree leaves
will not insulate your lawn during winter. In fact, they can block vital sunlight and thin your
grass. So, drop your rake and
Once you've mulched your leaves, it's time for your second fall feeding. Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Lawn Fertilizer gives your lawn the nutrients it needs to store up energy for a healthy spring push and helps to break down those mulched leaves.
Check out your garden center for a great selection of daffodil, crocus, hyacinth, tulip and other spring flowering bulbs. Plant them in masses or tucked into other beds for a surprise of spring color year after year, and don't forget to feed them with Miracle-Gro® Organic Choice® Bone Meal.
Fall is a great time to plant a tree or shrub. There's less shock, and the roots start growing early in spring. Better yet, they're often on sale about now. Just be sure to feed it with Miracle-Gro® Tree & Shrub Fertilizer Spikes or Miracle-Gro® Shake 'n Feed Continuous Release All-Purpose Plant Food.
Show your artistic side with a great, big pumpkin. When you're done, plant the seeds and grow your own pumpkin for next year.
Don't let mowing myths ruin your lawn. Mow at your summer height of 2 to 3 inches until your grass stops growing into early winter. You should cut your lawn slightly lower for the last cut (Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede can be mowed at a height of ¾ to 1 ½ inches).
Attract more colorful birds to your feeder. Skip the ordinary wild bird food this year and expand the kinds of birds you attract. Fill your feeders with one of the specialized wild bird foods from Scotts® and hang a suet feeder to delight your family with a wider range of birds and woodpeckers.
They've served you well all season, but now it's time to put the tools away. You'll keep them from rusting if you clean them up before you hang them up. Also, if you're done mowing for the year, do your winter mower maintenance for storage.
It's probably too cold now to sip lemonade on the patio, so put your cushions away and haul the grill and furniture into storage until next year.
While you're hanging holiday lights, check the gutters. Thanksgiving weekend is when many people are out on ladders hanging lights for the holiday season. If you're up on one, take the time to clean out your gutters. You don't want clogged gutters when winter storms roll in.
There's nothing like personal attention from a trusted expert to quickly answer any of your lawn and garden questions. Visit our Help Center to send us a note or speak with an expert by calling 1-888-270-3714.
