7 Tips For Caring For Your Yard This Fall

Like it or not, winter is right around the corner. In Toronto, the deep freeze can impact everything from your lawn and garden to your gutters and plumbing. Fortunately, the right preparations can help ensure that your home’s exterior can weather the cold—and prevent it from creeping inside. The key is to take these crucial steps before fall ends.

Here are seven simple tips you can use to ensure your home is winter-ready…

1) Learn from the season

Caring for your lawn and gardens is a learning process. That’s why you’ll want to stock of what’s worked in the last few months—and what hasn’t.

Take a walk around your property. Have some plants flourished more than others? Which techniques have been most successful? Having the answers to these questions can help you make more informed decisions during the next growing season.

2) Prep your gardens

Before the ground gets hard, you’ll want to rip out all the weeds you can find. Next up, start deadheading your flowers. Skillfully lopping off the blooms will allow them to grow back thicker and healthier down the line.

You’ll also want to pull up any annuals that can’t be saved. Be sure to remove the roots to make clean-up easier come springtime.

3) Save your bulbs

You may want to hold onto some of your existing bulbs to replant when the weather warms up again. When the first light frost arrives, it’s time to (gently) dig them up.

The best way to store your bulbs may vary depending on the type of plant. As a rule, you’ll want to clean them, pack them in the right material (whether it’s peat moss, sawdust, or something else), and store them in cool, dry place.

4) Seed cool-season grass

Planning to seed some cool-season grass? Options like fescue and ryegrass tend to do well in Toronto, and they can look incredibly lush. Without a doubt, fall is the best time to seed them.

Right now, the soil is still warm and the temperatures are cool. These are ideal conditions for cool-season grasses (just be sure to seed well before the first frost is expected).

5) Care for your lawn

Now is the time to prepare your grass for good health after the thaw. Start with mowing. Don’t cut your grass too short—and consider leaving the cuttings on the lawn so that it can absorb plenty of nitrogen.

Feeding and watering are still critical in autumn. Ask an associate at your local gardening store to help choose a fertilizer if you’re not sure, and try to provide at least half an inch of H2o per week to promote root growth.

6) Drain your hoses and faucets

Freezing cold weather can damage more than your plants. It can also crack your hoses and outdoor faucets. In some cases, the result can be frozen (and eventually, burst) pipes. Fortunately, you can avoid these outcomes.

Start by locating your outdoor water valve and shut it off. Drain and store your hoses, and winterize your outdoor faucets. You can purchase an insulated cover from your local home improvement store.

7) Clean your gutters

Don’t forget about your gutters! In the fall, they can quickly get packed with leaves and debris. That can lead to sagging, ice dams, and various forms of damage once the snow piles on. By clearing your gutters before winter sets in, you can help ensure that they stay intact.

The transition to winter can be a challenging one for homeowners, but it doesn’t have to be. By taking a few simple steps to prepare, you can ensure that your yard and property’s exterior is primed for the ice and snow!

Thinking of selling your home in the not-too-distant future? Get in touch to learn more about the process—and start exploring your options!