Fall Lawn & Landscape Maintenance

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Fall Landscape General Guidelines:

In a matter of days, it often feels like the weather around here goes from “where’s the fall relief” to “is it springtime yet?” If you have ever had these thoughts, you’re not alone. Along with you and the team here at Plant, your lawn and plants have the same feelings, too. To help alleviate some of those winter woes, we’re rounding up easy ways to preventatively care for all of your outdoor greens this year.

In Part 1 of our post on Fall Lawn and Landscape Maintenance, we’re talking about all things trees and shrubs. Check out these simple ways to keep your trees and shrubs happy and healthy all season long.

Watering:

Give all trees, shrubs, landscape, and lawn a heavy soaking before the weather consistently freezes at night. For detailed watering instructions, check out our blog post!

Mulching:

Mulch an additional ½” – 1” around the roots of trees and shrubs and perennials in the fall before winter sets in to insulate the roots. Avoid mulching against the trunk of trees and shrubs as this promotes trunk rot and can damage the bark long term.


Trees

Pruning:

Not all trees need to be pruned. Wintertime is a great time to prune trees because the branching structure becomes more prominent and apparent. Thinning out tree limbs and small branches inside the branching structure allow them to grow without crossing branching structures. Crossing branching structures can damage and wound a tree in a more long-term growth habit.

Pruning depends on the time of year, your type of tree, and your design aesthetic.


Question: what is your preferred manicured look for your landscape?

Prune accordingly.

Many ornamental trees (Crepe Myrtles, Dogwoods, Ornamental Maples etc) should have the small branches and the new growth removed from the ground to 5’-6’ up to showcase the beautiful branching structure and allow landscape lighting to cast a cleaner light pattern.


Staking:

If a stake is on a tree for more than two years it should be removed, otherwise, the collar will begin to eat into the trunk and branches and create wounds and permanent scarring.


Evergreens:

Normally lose the third years’ needles and they collect at the base of the tree. It is preferable to leave them because it adds winter protection and the needles break down to feed the tree. Although fall Deep Root Feeding is recommended, not much other maintenance is needed.


Shrubs

Mulching:

If your shrubs are established (over three years), you don’t need to mulch it in for the winter, but if the shrubs are newly planted within three years, you want to mulch around the root structure (not against the trunk of the shrub). Some sensitive shrubs in PA’s hardiness zone like Crepe Myrtles will appreciate yearly fall mulching.


Fertilization:

We recommend against fall fertilization of your shrubs. The intention is to discourage new shrub growth in the winter. It is preferable to fertilize in the spring.

Pruning:

Shrubs should be pruned in the fall to your desired aesthetic. Although hand pruning with clippers is the most ideal method, some shrubs can be pruned with powered hedge clippers to a neat manicured look. The best method for hand pruning is to do one of the following:

Manicured look: use hand shears

Natural look: Hand prune with clippers to the desired look and shape

More questions?

Please contact us at info@plantdesigngroup.com or tel:+2153215678.

jon-kontz-plant

About JOn Kontz

Jon Kontz is CEO of PLANT Design Group, a landscape design company located in Newtown, PA. He has over 25 years of experience designing and building landscapes. He can be reached directly at jon@plantdesigngroup.comOutside of business hours, you can find Jon fly fishing, rock climbing and farming with his wife and children.

PLANT Design Group is a landscape design and build company based in Newtown, PA. We specialize in exterior property design and outdoor living spaces including landscape, hardscape and exterior construction. Serving clients in Bucks County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia, PA. Visit us at loveyourbackyard.com or to speak with us about your project today, call (215) 458-5757. PLANT Design Group – 591 Durham Road – Newtown, PA 18940.

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