Landscaping Mistakes to Avoid This Autumn

Soft landscaping is that which is alive and can be planted. While hardscaping refers to sidewalks, driveways, rock retaining walls, mulch and paver patios placed around your home for function and beauty. Keep hardscape areas clean too, by power washing and clearing leaves and debris throughout the fall and into the winter months.

In the Delaware Valley, planting now through the end of October gives most plants a head start in the spring, since roots will grow in still-warm soil long after air temperatures drop. Be sure to soak the root ball thoroughly at least weekly if the weather is dry. Apply mulch after the soil freezes to minimize thawing and refreezing, which can damage tender new roots. Prune existing trees and shrubs lightly to repair broken or damaged limbs or to minimally re-shape.

Just because your fall lawn isn’t growing at the same rapid rate as the summer months, it still needs upkeep such as cutting and fertilizing. A yard that is cut and fertilized will help avoid damage during the colder winter months ahead. But don’t cut it too short - increase the trimming length on your lawn mower. Lower temperatures should be met with taller blades of grass because it will allow deeper roots to form, giving access to more nutrients for your lawn to face the colder temperatures. 

The fall is the best time to start thinking about colorful flowers sprouting in the spring. PINE BROOK's expert staff can help you decide what flowering bulbs are best to plant now while the soil is still soft before winter’s frost. By following grower’s directions and planting them low enough into the ground, it will prevent freezing of your bulbs and hard work. You will love how the fall planting will lead to a gorgeous garden in the early spring!

If you live in a home that has many mature and older trees in the neighborhood, you may get caught up in the nostalgia of falling autumn leaves, but they can also cause problems if not raked regularly. A thick layer of leaves can get in the way of lawn growth because they deprive the grass of a key element: sunlight. The leaf layer forms a barrier that also blocks water, nutrients and a healthy air flow from getting down to the root system of your grass. Excess fallen leaves can also hide walkways that can then become dangerously slippery when wet for pedestrians.

Creating small holes in your lawn, a process known as Aeration, reduces soil compaction and allows water and essential nutrients to reach deep in your soil. Right after aeration is the ideal time for Seeding as the seeds can fall into the small holes and grooves and make their way deep into the soil.  Contact PINE BROOK for the best results to keep your lawn thick, fill in bare patches and defend it from grubs, weeds and other grass-killing invaders.

 Hire the Professionals! You can take on these tasks by yourself or seek help from the professionals at PINE BROOK LANDSCAPING for convenient and affordable fall landscaping maintenance services. We also offer landscape design & installation, hardscaping design & installation and lawn care services. With our quality craftsmanship and attention to detail, we have been serving residents in and around Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery County for almost 30 years. Our experts look forward to identifying your needs and delivering the options that will suit your preferences and budget. Click to contact Pine Brook Landscaping online or call 267-718-1771 and we will be in touch with you soon!