Fall-Inspired Landscaping Tips for New Homeowners by Chafin Communities

While the spring season is often celebrated for fresh blooms and lush landscaping, fall offers its own opportunities to keep your yard shining year round. With milder weather on your side, it is the time to get your lawn in tip-top shape. Here are some tips on planting, mulching, and other landscaping tasks to enhance your curb appeal this fall. 

Planting 

Starting your garden in the fall can actually be a smart strategy. The cooler temperatures and consistent rainfall create adequate conditions for plants to establish strong, healthy roots before the chill of winter sets in. Many gardening experts recommend planting trees and shrubs in the fall, as this allows them to settle into their new space and thrive come spring. Varieties like azaleas, hydrangeas, and boxwoods are excellent choices for this season.

Fall is also a great time to plant perennials, which will have a chance to root deeply before the cold months. Beautiful options like lavender and daylilies not only brighten your garden now but will also return year after year, providing long-lasting beauty.

If you’re looking to add some instant color to your garden, fall annuals like mums, pansies, and snapdragons are fantastic options. These vibrant blooms will bring a cheerful touch to your landscape and continue to thrive throughout the cooler months.

Mulching 

Just like any living thing, gardens and lawns need tender love and care for growth. Mulching is one of those key practices that help to nurture your plants. Mulch helps protect roots, retain moisture, and improve soil health as the temperature dips. Pine straw is a popular choice that is specifically beneficial for azaleas, a shrub mentioned above. For freshly planted trees and shrubs, a 3-inch layer of mulch will provide insulation and combat harshness of the colder weather. If you do not want to purchase mulch, you can also collect your raked leaves into bags. Fallen leaves can function as a sustainable, recycled mulch material. Mulching helps prevent weeds,  protect the roots, and polish the look of other plants as well. Keep in mind that there is such a thing as mulching too early. Ideally, you will lay the mulch when the soil has cooled, so you are not trapping heat into the soil. 

Refreshing

A lawn refresh is essential to ensure your lawn stays healthy through the colder months and is strong come spring. Fall provides ideal conditions for your grass to rebuild and strengthen its roots before the winter chill. One of the best ways to support this process is by overseeding your lawn. Late September or early November is the prime time for overseeding, especially if your lawn appears to be thin or patchy. Aerating your lawn is another key step in refreshing it. Aeration creates small holes in the soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to sink deeper into the root zone, promoting healthier grass growth. 

Maintaining 

You may have a beautiful yard, but it requires upkeep to maintain that look. Fall maintenance tasks include raking fallen leaves. Otherwise, the grass covered by leaves could be damaged by a lack of sunlight and water. As always, you will want to control weeds and mow the lawn. You can get ahead of the weeds by applying a pre-emergent weed control treatment in the fall, or use a post-emergent herbicide if you have pre-existing weeds. As for mowing the lawn, lower your mower blade to about 2.5 inches. This seems to achieve the sweet spot when it comes to a healthy grass length this time of year. 

Preparing 

As you create and care for your new home’s landscape, it’s also important to think ahead and plan for the future. Consider features that will enhance your outdoor space during the winter months and keep them in mind as you design. For instance, planting shrubs or small trees in winter-ready containers can help ensure their health and longevity throughout the season. You might also want to incorporate elements like bird feeders or bird baths to attract wildlife and bring life to your yard when plants are dormant. Planning ahead gives you a head start, allowing you to choose plants that will complement any additions you make in the winter, creating a cohesive and vibrant landscape year-round.

With your keen eye and dedication, your new lawn will catch many admirable gazes. Not only will these tips work today, but they will continue to make a lasting impact on the health and beauty of your landscape. Enjoy!