Your Arlington Heights landscaping will have to be adjusted according to winter weather. Hence, your first task in the fall is to clear your lawn. Remove the vegetables you’ve planted on it. While destroying your lawn, mice will take cover under them, so it’s best to compost the vegetables instead to use as fertilizer later. Remove and compost dead, fallen and faded leaves as well. Also, remember that composting plants that have been infested by pests or any disease is a big no-no.
Prior to your last mowing for the fall season, pull out the weeds that have grown in your lawn. You need not obsess about pulling out every single weed as long as your lawn is about 85% weed-free. Another task you should do for your Arlington Heights landscaping is pruning.
Water your plants and trees deeply before the ground begins to freeze. Winter can desiccate them so you better make sure they absorb as much moisture they can while the temperature still hasn’t dropped to zero.
Thorough raking of debris, clippings and leaves from your Arlington Heights landscaping is ideal when your lawn grass has stopped growing. During this time, it’s the roots of the grass that are growing instead of the leaves. Hence, you should begin aerating your lawn soil in preparation for the spreading of the grasses’ roots.
It’s also the ideal time for you to fertilize the grass because their roots will absorb and retain as many nutrients as they can to last throughout wintertime. A highly recommended fertilizer for your Arlington Heights landscaping in the fall is slow-release fertilizer rich in potassium and low in nitrogen. By using this type of fertilizer, you’ll ensure that your lawn’s grass is well-fed but not over-fertilized.
When you do your last lawn mowing for the fall, make sure that you get rid of the clippings and not let them be like you do when doing your regular lawn mowing. If you leave them on your lawn, you’ll be putting the grass at risk of getting snow molds.
Finally, clean and take the potted plants which form a part of your Arlington Heights landscaping indoors so they’ll be protected from the harsh winter wind and snow. On the other hand, perennials and evergreens you’ve planted on your lawn have to be shielded from the elements, so cover them with burlap so they won’t dry out and they won’t be heaving.
Preparing your Arlington Heights landscaping for the winter involves an awful lot of hard work so make sure you set aside hours of your weekends to do it, and maybe, make it a family affair so the work will be less heavy and more.
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