Fall sneaks up on homeowners every year. The days get a little cooler, the leaves start to turn, and suddenly it feels like there’s no time left to get the yard ready for winter. The good news is that early fall is actually one of the best times of year to set your lawn and landscaping up for a strong spring, as long as you tackle a few key tasks before the ground freezes.
We talked with Greg Potter, a landscaping expert, about what homeowners should be paying attention to right now.
Aerate and Overseed while the Window is Open
If your lawn has thin patches or compacted soil from a summer of foot traffic, right now is the time to address it.
“Right now is the ideal window,” Potter said, explaining that aeration lets air, water, and nutrients reach the grass roots before winter sets in. Overseeding pairs naturally with aeration this time of year because cooler temperatures give new seed a much better shot at germinating.
For bare patches, homeowners have two options. Seeding is the slower but more affordable route, while sod delivers closer-to-instant results. “Seed is gonna take a little bit of time to germinate and to grow,” Potter said, “but sod gives you much more instant impact.”
Protect your drainage before the leaves pile up
As leaves start to come down, gutters, downspouts, and French drains become vulnerable to clogging. Potter recommends cleaning gutters at least once a month in the fall, and without exception before the season’s last outdoor cleanup.
“You don’t want the leaves to build up and then you get a rainstorm and the gutters are clogged,” he said. “That’s when things turn sideways.”
Homeowners with sump pump systems should also double check that any outdoor vents or access points are clear of debris so water has somewhere to go.
Know what to prune now versus what to leave alone
Not everything in the yard should get cut back in the fall. Potter warned that one of the most common homeowner mistakes is pruning spring flowering shrubs too early.
“If you prune azaleas right now, you’re cutting off next year’s spring blooms,” he said, noting that rhododendrons carry the same risk. Both shrubs set their buds for next year well before winter, so early pruning strips away flowers that haven’t even opened yet.
While you’re outside, it’s also worth scanning trees for warning signs. Branches with no leaves on them this time of year, while everything around them is still turning color, are often already dead and worth keeping an eye on.
Plant now for a payoff next spring
Fall might not feel like planting season, but Potter says the combination of cooler air and still-warm soil makes it ideal for getting new plants established.
A few easy additions homeowners can make now include:
- Bulbs like daffodils and tulips, which go dormant over winter and bloom on their own next spring
- Shrubs and small trees such as Japanese maple, which benefit from the mild fall conditions
- Fall annuals like pansies and mums, which bloom immediately and add seasonal color right away
Pansies are a bit of a bonus pick. They bloom right when you plant them, appear to shrivel up once winter hits, and then come back again in the spring. Whatever you plant, don’t assume cooler weather means plants need less water. New trees and shrubs still need deep watering right up until the ground freezes, since dry roots heading into winter can lead to wind and cold damage.
Use soil amendments when you plant
If you’re not testing your soil, adding an amendment like leaf compost when you plant is a simple way to give new bulbs and shrubs a better start heading into winter.
The bottom line
Fall is a short window, but it’s a productive one. Aerating, overseeding, clearing drainage, watching your pruning timing, and getting bulbs and shrubs in the ground now all pay off when spring arrives. A little attention this season means less repair work and a better looking yard next year.
