Falling right between the two extreme seasons - summer and winter, landscaping during fall poses a challenge to many landscape designers. So what are some of the things you could consider paying attention to when landscaping in the fall? How do you ensure that the plants can withstand the harsh winter and regain their health and appearance in spring?
1. Mulch
Fall mulching happens to be more effective than mulching in the spring. This is because when you mulch in the fall, you are doing so in preparation for the cold winter that is set to come. You would be ensuring that you are protecting your plants’ roots from the frost; and you would also be preserving the soil moisture; set for the dry cold winter that may be lying ahead.
2. Remove dead landscaping
In fall, you do not prune. Instead, you remove the dead landscaping so that the client does not have to be stuck with it all winter. This is the time you should neaten your landscape as you prepare to put it to bed during the winter. Some of the things that should go include spent blooms, dead annuals and desiccated ornamental grasses and perennials. In the case of trees and shrubs, you should lightly prune the dead or dying branches.
In the case of hydrangea though, do not remove the dead-looking stalks because this is where the new buds will form once spring comes.
3. Wrapping the delicate shrubs
The delicate shrubs in your landscape can very easily be damaged during the winter. It is up to you; the landscape designer to identify these shrubs and take measures to protect them from heavy snow, ice and high winds.
You could wrap the shrubs in burlap, hide small plants under overturned buckets or pots, or surround the vulnerable trees with shredded leaves. This is another reason you should not be so quick to rake and toss away the fallen leaves during this season.
4. Prepare the lawn / landscape
One prime time to plant is during early fall; before the ground freezes. To save a pretty penny, you could take advantage of the trees sale offer during this period and plant as many seeds as possible. Of course, you would have to do so according to plan; so that the client does not end up with a disaster of a landscape during the spring.
Before planting though, make sure you do not skip any of the ground preparation processes. Aerate the soil, apply fertilizer etc. Proper care is required during this stage because you would want the landscape to bloom once spring comes; and if you do not plant with care, then that won’t happen.
5. Feed the trees
Late fall is an ideal time to feed the trees. As a designer, of course you know of the various ways of doing this; depending on the type of tree in question; as well as the age of the tree. You could use a root stimulant, a water-soluble fertilizer or granular fertilizer.
Essentially, fall is the time to care for the plants and trees in preparation for the harsh winter to come. Enact proper care of the vegetation during this point because you would want the landscape to revert to its original beauty in spring; rather than having to start all over again.
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