As summer’s end gives way to shorter days and cooler weather, once bold colors adorning your landscape may have started to fizzle out. It’s a seasonal telltale, which can be difficult to watch after months of nurturing bright, lush foliage.
Still, fall does not have to be a complete brown-out. Our Turf Medic team has spent years perfecting the quintessential Autumn yard. We offer up a few tips for adding vibrance and curb appeal to your lawn in the months ahead.
- Plant new trees and shrubs that flourish in chillier temps. Species with fiery foliage – such as the October glory red maple – are sure to be showstoppers. These leafy additions also will serve as taller focal points, bringing texture and depth to your yard.
- Install blooming plants that deliver color contrast, like mums, muhly grasses, and aster. It’s the season for oranges, yellows and maroon. Paired together, these hues will morph your landscape into a bold beacon for all to see.
- Decorate the space around your front door with natural embellishments like harvest leaves, hay bales, pumpkins, potted flowers (mums), and scarecrows. Oftentimes, the hardest part of sprucing up the entrance to a home is practicing restraint! Remember keep it simple, inviting and functional.
- Add some landscape lighting to the exterior of your home. This not only serves as a great-looking backdrop to your yard, but it also prolongs time spent outside, allowing you to illuminate nights on the patio with friends.
- Set up a fire pit in the backyard. Everyone loves gathering around an open flame, whether sipping hot cider with friends, roasting marshmallows, or telling ghost stories. It’s a great addition not only ideal for fall, but winter as well.
- Stay ahead of the game with regular maintenance. It might seem obvious, but general yard care tends to get overlooked as the days get shorter. Keeping your lawn and beds clear of leaves makes a huge aesthetic difference and helps minimize attracting pests. At the same time, cleaning debris from gutters and drain caps allows better drainage, reducing the risk of water damage during storm season.
- Prune shrubs and perennials, however, be aware that plants such as azaleas have different pruning requirements during this time of year. It’s often best to learn the individual needs of your garden. To strengthen plants for winter, apply a low nitrogen high potassium fertilizer.
- Replace mulch in beds. This will give your yard a clean, hearty look, while bringing some color to your landscape’s accent areas. Popular choices include brown, natural, black, and red. If you’re planning on using hardwood mulch, it should be maintained at 3 inches for the best weed control. This also helps the bed retain moisture around plants.
With autumn right on the doorstep, it opens possibilities to creating a curbside view like no other. Using these pointers as a guide, you too can cultivate a festive, outdoor masterpiece that neighbors and visitors will admire as they usher in the harvest season.