Fall Yard Cleanup

The snow is falling, and the leaves are still on the ground; what now?

The guilt list of your fall yard cleanup may be scarier than Halloween coming up, but not to worry. We have you covered with what is a necessity and what can be left for next year.

We will split the tasks into two categories: necessary and the ones you can take a guilt-free pass on.

You could do things that won’t cause lasting damage if you skip: raking leaves and cutting down dead plants.

First and foremost, remove fallen leaves and twigs from your lawn and mulch beds. Use a leaf blower or rake to gather and dispose of the leaves properly. Dried leaves can be composted in your green bin.

Next, take care of any dead or seasonal plants. Trim back any dead branches or foliage and remove plants beyond saving. And any gardens or annual plants that will not return next year can be cut down.

Necessary tasks: Sprinkler blowouts!

One task you can’t skip is the sprinkler system. If water is left in these lines, it will freeze over winter and cause significant damage to your sprinkler system.

The bottom line? If cleaning up for fall makes you feel satisfied and prepped for winter, go for it! If you are in no mood and want to tackle it in the spring, that’s okay, too. Except for those sprinklers, the crews will be mighty displeased if they have to dig up your whole yard next year because your lines froze and burst!

So have a happy fall, and enjoy the leaves while they last.