1. Not mowing in a regular basis.

When manicuring the lawn, it is crucial to keep consistent with recommended grooming requirements. Some types of grass can be severally damaged if it is cut too low.

2. Not doing once-over lawn manicuring

As winter nears, it’s typical for homeowners to reseed, aerate or mow the lawn. For optimal health and proper growth, plant specialists recommend the once-over lawn manicuring technique to ensure it looks nice and even throughout the winter. The final process is to reemphasize the lines diagonally. This will keep a lush, neat appeal even as springtime returns.

3. Not Watering Plants

Despite the colder winter months, the hedges, fruit trees and shrubs all need water. Poor watering of your plants could result in some serious damage arising from dehydration and/or disease.

4. Not using the correct plant fertilizer.

Be sure to use the right fertilizer for your plants based on the weather and temperatures. Granular fertilizer isn’t an ideal product for plants because it takes longer to dissolve, especially in colder temperatures. If the lawn or plants aren’t getting enough fertilizer, it is more likely for it to wither or suffer severe frost burns.

5. Not using high-quality mulch to treat the soil

Poor quality mulch could infest healthy soil and plants with fungus or pests. Gardeners should mulch the soil of trees or houseplants and the surface if the weather permits it. If the ground has frozen, it will be difficult to undertake this task successfully.

6. Not raking the leaves.

Yes, it’s a pain, but neglecting this duty can allow fungus and mold to thrive with the snow accumulating on the leaves.

7. Not jumping into spring planting.

By delaying your spring planting, you are ensuring that your harvest won’t be as fruitful since it takes a while for plants to mature. Shrubs, crops and trees need adequate time to grow.

8. Not stocking up on new garden supplies.

Summer and spring clearance at a local gardening supplies store are the best place to get bargains on tools, soil, pots, seeds and more! Sometimes it can save you up to 90%!

9. Not dealing with pests.

If you notice that crops harvested have worms or signs of pest infestation, it is necessary to take care of the yard to minimize infestation. Not taking care of the problem promptly can have serious consequences.

The post 9 NOTS to Avoid This Fall/Winter Season appeared first on Landscape Edging Blog.

1.  The Weather

The fall weather is only around for so long before winter strikes and the ground freezes up. Get it done now! Fall is the optimum time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials because they are just heading into dormancy and will happily establish themselves next spring when the weather warms up.

2.  The Budget

Sticking to a budget can be challenging, but there’s no need to make it any more difficult. Get it done now, while your landscaping dreams still match your budget! Having the heavy work done this fall will help save money on your landscaping project in the spring!

3.  The Wait

There’s so many reasons why you could procrastinate, but getting it done now will not be something you regret. Get it done now, before the spring line ups for landscaping companies begin. Now is the perfect time to get your fall landscaping project underway.

The post Three Reasons to Do Your Fall Landscaping NOW! appeared first on Landscape Edging Blog.

Burning bush (Euonymus alatus)

This shrub is named for it’s bright red leaves in the fall. It’s easy to grow and does well in most soil types. Thrives in sun to partial shade. Full height is about 9′ it has an open rounded shape. USDA zones 4 – 8.

Spirea (Spirea)

There are several varieties of spirea so it’s easy to choose the ideal size, leaf and flower. They are native to the US, very easy to grow and drought-tolerant once established. They do best in USDA zones 3-8.

Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum carlesii)

Covered in intensely fragrant white flowers in the spring and beautiful red-yellow leaves in the fall. There are many cultivars that vary in height from 3′ to 10′. Grows best in full sun. USDA zones 5 – 8.

Ninebark (Physocarpus Coppertina)

Ninebark is grown primarily for its foliage color and decorative peeling bark. Foliage color varies from burgundy, yellow or red depending on the variety. They grow about 8′ to 10′ tall but can be kept smaller with pruning. Tolerates moist soil conditions. USDA zones 3-7

Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia)

These shrubs vary in height from 4′ to 15′ depending on the cultivar. They have showy, large flowers and a long bloom time. Add to this the attractive fall foliage and you have a shrub which looks great all year. USDA zones 5-9.

When summer flowers have gone, these shrubs will add a bright burst of color to your garden!

The post Top Shrubs for Fall Color appeared first on Landscape Edging Blog.

It’s important to keep bird feeders clean so they are free of bacteria. To clean a feeder, use water and liquid bleach. (One part bleach mixed with nine parts water). Dunk the feeder in the liquid so it is entirely covered for about three minutes. Then scrub away debris with a brush and rinse well with clean water. Wait until it is completely dry before filling with birdseed.

Store birdseed in a waterproof container such as a metal trash can (this keeps rodents out) and keep the seed dry. Throw out any damp, moldy seed.

Providing fresh water for birds throughout the winter months is important. One option is to have a shallow dish of water in the yard. However if the water freezes, you will need to refill it with running water.

There are several options to prevent water freezing. Use a bird bath and a pond aerator or drip system. Or use a bird bath with a built-in heating element. Be sure to follow installation instructions very carefully if using a heating element. To keep the bird bath clean, use the same method as for bird feeders.

Providing food and water for garden birds helps preserve the local bird population so that you can enjoy them in your yard the following year!

The post Cleaning Bird Feeders and Bird Baths appeared first on Landscape Edging Blog.

1. Plant bulbs

This is the time to plant spring-blooming bulbs like tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils. Get them in the ground before it freezes! Put in a little effort in the fall, and you’ll be rewarded with gorgeous color in the spring.

2. Store tender bulbs

Before the ground freezes, dig up and store your non-hardy bulbs like gladiolus, dahlias, cannas, and tuberous begonias.

3. Prepare your pots

Empty terra cotta and other ceramic and stone flower pots and store them in a garden shed or other covered spot. Leaving them out all winter will allow moisture to get inside, and as the weather warms and cools, the moisture will expand and contract, which could cause the pots to crack.

4. Rake, rake, rake!

Keep the leaves raked up from your lawn and gardens. Composting is a great way to get rid of all those leaves, while turning them into something useful for your garden.

5. Cover it up

Consider planting a cover crop in your vegetable garden. This can help break up clay soil, enrich sandy soil, and get your garden ready for next year’s vegetable crop.

6. Put your tools to bed

Give your garden tools a good cleaning and store them in a shed for the winter. Removing any dirt and chemicals will help prevent rust and corrosion.

7. Give trees a drink

Once the ground freezes solid, your trees and shrubs won’t be able to get any extra water until it thaws. To make sure there’s enough water in the soil, give them a big drink now, and add mulch to help keep the soil moist.

8. Under wraps

Consider wrapping the trunks of newly planted and thin-barked trees like linden, ash, and maple. You can use plastic winding tubes or a brown paper wrap. This prevents the bark from cracking due to the contracting and expanding that comes with freezing and thawing.

9. Prudent pruning

In the late fall, you can prune many types of trees. The sap loss is minimized during colder weather, which means there’s less stress to the tree. Flowering trees like cherry, peach, and plums, however should NOT be pruned in the fall. It’s best to prune them near bloom time.

10. Spring green

If your lawn has bare spots, this is the time to overseed. It’s not as simple as just tossing seed onto the lawn and hoping for the best, though. You need to get the seed down to the soil level, or it will just germinate in the thatch layer and die.

11. Tuck your strawberries into bed

The growing season is over, but your strawberry plants have already set their flower buds for next spring. For a good harvest next year, make sure the berry plants have a snug bed this winter.

Do you have any other landscaping or gardening chores that should be done in the fall?

Share them in the comments below! We want to hear from you!!

A version of this post was originally shared on “Living The Country Life.“

The post 11 Fall Chores That Are A Must! appeared first on Landscape Edging Blog.