5 Issues to Avoid in your Landscape this Fall

As you take inventory of your plans for your fall landscape, there are a multitude of things to consider. It is easy to get lost in the potential beauty of renovations made to your luxurious landscape. However, you must keep in mind the potential pitfalls that can be encountered when engaging in landscaping activities. Even when working with a professional landscaper, there are still minor DIY jobs done by most homeowners. Ensuring that these are done correctly and that best practices are followed is vital to the overall success of your landscaping. The goal of a well-landscaped property is to attract visitors, tenants, and buyers with a put-together look and feel. An easy way to contribute to this look is to be aware of common issues, and how to avoid them. Here are 5 issues to avoid in your landscape this fall.

Letting Leaves Gather

Although it may create a cozy fall look, piles of leaves atop your turf can be harmful to your grass. Airflow is vital to the health of your turf, as your soil needs oxygen to breathe. This can suffocate your lawn, and also lead to an inability for identification of lawn pests and diseases if the layer of leaves is too thick. This decreased visibility may not seem important, but during the time of the year where your lawn is most vulnerable, keeping an eye out is a must. It is simple, just rake your leaves, and problems will not persist.

Pruning too Late

Removing foliage and material that is no longer a benefit to the plant is a must in the fall. Timing is extremely important as if done too late, new material can begin to grow without enough time to harden before the arrival of freezing temperatures. This will not be permanently damaging to your plant or shrub, but will certainly be an eyesore. As soon as your plant material ceases flowering, you should be on top of pruning. Make sure to first prioritize hedges and ornamental shrubs during October. Be wary, as late pruning leads to a lack of growth the following year.

Lack of Irrigation In the Cold

One of the most common misconceptions is that because the colder weather is beginning to hit, irrigation is not as necessary. While this may be true to an extent, a long dry spell still requires that you water your lawn and plants, fall or not. Don’t make the mistake of leaving your lawn out to dry come a dry week this autumn.

Leaving Weeds to Grow

Similar to watering, weeding is a necessary task that must be performed even in the cooler weather. If left to their own devices, weeds can often overtake your lawn, as well as your plant beds. These weeds can be persistent, and push through the cold. Do everything you can to rid your lawn of them, so you can start next spring without the burden.

Ignoring Brown Patches

While it is normal for parts of your lawn to become slightly less healthy, the Florida weather is usually warm enough to prevent total browning of turf. This means that if you are performing all of your normal lawn maintenance activities, then brown patches in your lawn could be indicative of much larger problems. Pests and disease can both cause these large brown patches, and must be dealt with in a timely manner to minimize damage. Pay attention to any dying areas of your lawn, and consult your landscaper to identify why. Commercial or Residential, Taylor Anthony is prepared to help you manage your landscape by providing the right solution for your situation and to avoid these 5 issues in your landscape this fall, call us today at (904) 230-3386.