When fall rolls around, we usually have a lot on our minds. Kids returning to school, Husker football, the upcoming holidays and the dropping temperatures. However, many of us aren’t thinking about our lawns and landscaping as we see this as more of a spring and summer issue. However, with the unusually hot and dry summer and the upcoming cold months, it’s very important that we make some considerations for our landscaping now so that when spring rolls around, they will be in the best possible shape. It’s also important to note that there are plenty of projects that can still be completed during cooler months to make the outdoors more enjoyable to spend time in this fall.
Decide Your Goals
All fall landscaping projects are not going to be the same as not every homeowner has the same goals. Before you begin making your plans and hiring professionals, you need to have clear-cut goals on what you want to get out of your fall landscaping. These might include:
–You just want everything to be low-maintenance during the cold months. Not everyone wants to be outside during the cooler months and find this is a great time to curl up by the fireplace and watch TV or play a board game with the kids. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if your family is the indoor sort during the cool months there’s no reason for you to spend a lot of money on improving your outdoor living space. Focus on winterizing and making sure your lawn and other outdoor areas will be ready when spring rolls around again.
–You want your lawn back the way it used to be. Maybe you’re one of those homeowners who fought all summer long to keep your lawn alive and growing and you can’t wait until next year when you might have a chance at having that lush yard again. If this is you, it’s very important that you get a lawn care specialist on board who can take a look at what damage the summer did to your lawn and how best to prepare it for recovery.
–You want to enjoy fall outside. Nebraska can have some mild fall weather and some families enjoy spending time on their deck or patio during these months. In this case, doing some larger projects like deck remodels, grill or fire pit installation or even having some water features put in could be a good use of your resources.
–You love winters outside no matter what the weather. Do you want to enjoy the snowfall from your deck? Do you love hanging out in the yard, helping the kids make snowmen? If you’re a cold weather lover, you might want to consider projects like hot tubs (great to sit in as the snow falls around you) and retractable awnings as well as deck and patio improvements.
–You love the winter…but you’d rather enjoy it while staying cozy. Winter can be beautiful, but some people just don’t want to face the cold to enjoy it. Are you sad every year because you feel like you’ve missed an entire season being stuck indoors? Maybe this year is the one to build a sunroom or 3-season room. You can enjoy everything the winter brings while still, technically, being indoors.
Preparing for Winter
Making sure the outdoor of your home is prepared for winter can save you money in costly repairs. Lance Roach with JL Exteriors Inc. suggests, “There are many different things you can do in the fall, but I would say the most important is a whole house inspection to get prepared for the winter months. It is a good idea to get this done in the fall while the weather is still nice. Here are some other important items to take care of: Clean out your gutters! Make sure they are not full of leaves or debris as this will help for water flow and cause less ice damming. Also inspect the ends and corners of the gutters to make sure they are not leaking. If so, clean the area and seal them with caulking or a spray on sealer. You should also check your foundation and seal any cracks. With the dry summer we had, you have to check for gaps from your foundation to the earth and, if they exist, fill them with dirt. This goes for decks, footings and patios as well. Inspecting the roof is also important. If you are able and willing, check for loose or missing shingles, skylights, loose flashing, cracks in pipe gaskets and for any damage from trees, etc. Take a look at your windows and doors, too. These are the worst possible place for air infiltration. Caulk and seal around your windows and doors, check the weather stripping and make sure it is still serving its purpose. In some cases, you may need to plastic over your windows for the winter months to avoid letting a lot of cold air come in. If this is the case, you might want to think about replacing them. Finally, inspect your concrete. Look for gaps/large cracks in your driveway or patio (similar to the foundation). Fill the gap with backer rod (foam strips), then apply a self-leveling caulking to seal the gap.”
Fall Lawn and Plant Care
The hot, dry summer had an effect on local lawns and it may change the way you need to prepare it for winter. “How the weather affected your lawn depends on whether you watered it during the summer or not,” explains Ken Svoboda with Ray’s Lawn and Home Care. “If the lawn was allowed to go totally dormant with no irrigation, the lawn’s survival going into fall depends on the variety of grass that makes up your lawn. Bluegrass can survive total dormancy and, with cool fall temperatures and a little fall rain or irrigation, the lawn will come out of dormancy and stay green until winter. Fine fescue lawns, however, have not been tested to this degree of high extended heat and even longer drought. Time will tell whether your lawn survives. Unfortunately, you may not know until next spring.”
“Homeowners should consider aerating the lawn and applying a fall fertilizer during the month of October,” Ken continues. “After what the lawns of Lincoln have gone through this summer, I’d highly recommend routine watering. It doesn’t take much. A couple of waterings a week will help prepare your lawn for winter and help insure a good start next spring.”
Fall can also be a good time to add new vegetation to your landscape. “Planting is perfect this time of year,” Andrew Campbell with Campbell’s Nursery explains. “Plants are able to settle into place and it gives them time to accelerate or grow and they will be ready to bloom when spring comes. Another great project is any repair to sod and turf. There’s also still plenty of time to seed as hopefully we’ll get plenty of rain to help the grass grow. Fall is also the time to get perennials trimmed, do some light trimming to shrubs and clean up any trash or debris around the outside of your home. Cleaning up leaves is also very important. One great recommendation is to pick up leaves about once every week as they fall with your mower. It makes it easier than waiting for them all to fall and cleaning up then.”
“A lot of people are putting in new plants or trees this time of year,” reiterates Bob Hendricks with Outdoor Solutions. “This is a good opportunity to put down some mulch to help retain as much moisture as possible.”
Winterizing Annual Beds
After harvesting your fruits and flowers, remove old plant matter from the garden, placing it in your compost bin. Leaving it behind in the garden would invite plant diseases next growing season.
Next, you should rototill your garden soil. Rototilling now may seem premature, but it will make your spring rototilling work go much easier. Make a habit of rototilling each year both in the fall and in the spring. Drain the old gas out of the rototiller afterwards. If you are going to rototill, this is the time to apply lime (if soil tests have indicated that your pH is too low). The effects of liming don’t manifest themselves for several months, so liming in the spring is too late for next year’s crop.
You also need to protect your topsoil from the rigors of winter. To protect topsoil, you can either plant a cover crop for large beds or you can apply a mulch. Mulching is more efficient for smaller beds and landscapers have a ready source of mulch in the leaves that they rake.
Curb Appeal
Landscaping does not have to limited to your lawn, garden and patio or decks. Anything that improves the curb appeal of your home is a great project for the fall. Here are a few ideas:
Driveways If your driveway is old, cracking or just needs an upgrade, this is a good project for the fall. You will be amazed at how much upgrading or repairing your driveway will change the look of the outside of your home.
Siding or paint Is the exterior of your home looking less than ideal? Maybe you have peeling paint or siding that has seen better days. This might be a sign that redoing the exterior of your home is past due. Consider upgrading the materials to a vinyl siding or even brick. If you don’t have a very large budget, a new coat of paint might be enough to give your home a whole new look.
Removal of material Sometimes what is keeping your home from looking its best is clutter. This could mean clutter of unkempt shrubbery or plants, overgrown or dead trees, or it could mean the clutter that just naturally builds up around your home such as kids’ toys or bikes, storage materials and other objects that have just never found a home in your garage or basement. Removing this clutter can often transform your home completely. Consider hiring a landscaper who can help you remove trees or plan materials and then consider a cleaning company to help you clean up the clutter around your home.
Fall Projects
Just because it’s cooler doesn’t mean you have to completely abandon outdoor projects. There are a number of landscaping jobs that can be done when summer is over. “I always like decks and hot tubs, as you can use them all winter long,” points out Mike Gall, Sr. with Vision Builders. “Another fun one is the deck with the grill shelter so you can grill in the winter months without snow falling on your food. We did several decks and hot tubs this summer and the clients specifically wanted the deck for the summer and the hot tub for the fall/winter. Another project I enjoyed was the enclosed porch. Heated by a wood stove, it is a very cozy and inviting space to entertain or just curl up with a good book. Lots of windows let you watch the snow fall and the wood burning stove keeps it toasty warm!”
Jeff Bonsall with Bonsall Pools adds, “Fall is an ideal time to tackle an outdoor project. From something as simple as a portable hot tub to something more involved like an in-ground swimming pool, the weather is perfect for working outside, so you will typically see a project progress quickly. Products like patio heaters and fire tables look really cool, they are easy to install, and will keep your outdoor space usable as the temps start to dip.”
Jeff goes on to say, “It’s all about outdoor entertaining when it comes to fall projects. Everybody wants a nice outdoor space they can be proud of. Whether it’s your family on a Sunday afternoon or a group of friends on a Friday night, an outdoor living space can dramatically increase your ability to comfortably host a group of folks. The best outdoor spaces incorporate features like hot tubs, fire pits, patio heaters and swimming pools. These features add value to the outdoor room by providing entertainment and giving you a reason to enjoy the outdoors. Spending quality time outside with family and friends is just way more fun that watching TV in the house.
Features with fire and water together are becoming very popular and these two elements can play nicely together and look very cool in the right setting. If you want to upgrade your outdoor space but future resale is a concern, it shouldn’t be if you do things right. A well-designed and built outdoor living space will essentially add square footage to your home and make your home much more desirable to prospective buyers if you ever decide to sell.”
“We have a number of projects on the schedule for fall,” Ken Svoboda with Ray’s Lawn and Home Care says. “We’re working on two Parade of Homes projects that involve retaining walls, landscaping, water features and even a swimming pool. Other projects include new patios, sitting walls with columns and a fire and water pit.”
“Fall is definitely a good time to think about any larger ‘hardscape’ projects you may have in mind,” adds Bob Hendricks with Outdoor Solutions. “By ‘hardscape’, we mean any paver or flagstone patios and walkways, retaining walls or just decorative rock.”
“When planning an outdoor project like these, a home owner has to remember to get started before the ground freezes,” Mike Gall Sr. says. “Digging in frozen ground is VERY expensive and doesn’t bring the same results as working with unfrozen soil.”
Working with Professionals
Any landscaping project, whether it involves new installations, winterization or just maintenance, can entail a lot of time and energy and may require expertise that you just don’t have. Why put your family and career on the back burner to take care of projects that you can hire professionals for? Not only will that free you up to focus on what is really important in your life, but professionals will likely do a better job and might even save you money over doing it yourself.
“Professionals can help maximize your budget by reducing or eliminating waste and repairing or replacing material installed improperly,” explains Ken Svoboda with Ray’s Lawn and Home care. “Professionals can help a homeowner get started on a project and if they’d like to do some of the project themselves, provide helpful hints. Professionals can also complete a project in a matter of days instead of weeks or months if a homeowner can only work on their project in their limited spare time.”
“The benefit of working with a professional is that you would be working from a plan, a plan that will look great over time,” adds Andrew Campbell with Campbell’s Nursery. “Another benefit to using a professional landscaper is that they are able to see things that a homeowner may not see. I like to walk around the house with a client and be able to help them visualize their goals.”
“Especially after the summer we had, it’s important to work with a lawncare professional to come up with a strategic plan for your lawn,” says Lee Schumacher with TDK Lawncare. “Each lawn was affected differently by the heat, so it’s vital that you get a professional to come take a look and see exactly what needs to be done to take your lawn into the cooler months and ensure that it recovers in the spring.”
Finding the best professionals for your project is essential to the success of it and your ultimate enjoyment of your landscape. “There are many ways to find a qualified contractor,” explains Lance Roach with JL Exteriors. “The Better Business Bureau and Angie’s List are a couple of good places to find reviews and ratings on contractors and most contractors should have a web site for you to look at their work and find out more about their company and what they do. Ask them for references from people/places they have done work for. Call and talk to past clients to see what they have to say and maybe even go and take a look at a project they’ve done for someone else. One thing to keep in mind is that the lowest bid may not always be the best. Get a minimum of three estimates. This way, you can make sure you are comparing apples to apples and have three different sets of eyes and ideas to look at the project. Most importantly, you should feel comfortable with your contractor.” Remember that you will be working with this person for weeks, months or even years depending on your project and the maintenance that is needed for it. Don’t you want to work with someone you get along with, who listens to your ideas, who returns your calls and who you generally feel good about giving business to?
“Look for value rather than price,” Jeff Bonsall with Bonsall Pools points out. “Since these projects can be a big investment, you don’t want to do something cheap that will look bad in a couple of years. It’s usually worth paying a little more for something that will endure the elements and look good for a long time. One way to help assure you get what you pay for is to work with someone who has a great reputation in town and who will be around to provide service in the future.”
“In landscapers, you should be looking for those who have years of experience, are credible and have a great reputations,” says Andrew Campbell. “Education is also important. Some people may say that they are landscapers, but they don’t have a clue about the business, were not educated in the field and just work out of their van and say they are a landscaper. Being known for your work and experience is something you should definitely look for.”
“Choose someone who is licensed, insured and experienced and offers a complete lawncare program,” Lee Schumacher adds.
Interviewing potential landscapers is a great way to get a feel for their work and their ideas. Make sure if you are interviewing a larger company that you actually get to talk to those who will be doing the work and not just an owner or manager who will never be on site. Below are a few questions you might want to ask:
–How long have you been in business?
–What budget range do you usually work with? This question can help you determine if this landscaper is familiar with projects such as the one you’ll be asking him/her to work on or if he or she is better suited to larger or smaller projects.
–Do you have some pictures of recent projects you’ve worked on?
–What are some of your ideas for my landscape?
–How many people will be working on my landscaping project? Will you be on site or supervising?
–What have been some of your favorite projects you’ve completed and why?
–What steps will you take if I am not satisfied with the finished project?
Other Considerations
Consider Using a Roll-Off Steve Hatten with 1st Choice Roll-Offs says, “Roll-offs are perfect for home improvements, roofing, new decks, new siding and new patio or driveway concrete. They are easy to load, you can choose the right size for your project, make clean-up convenient and you can remove the mess in one pick-up.”
Consider Indoor Projects Many contractors like to work inside during the cooler months, so this may be the fall and winter to get something done such as a basement finish or garage remodel. Even though they don’t technically fall into the category of landscaping or outdoor living, they will make your winter months in your home much more enjoyable!
Security Systems If you do not currently have a security system, you should consider having one installed this fall. Systems like those installed by AlarmLink USA can protect both the inside and outside of your home with motion-detector lights, lights that can be set on a timer, fire and carbon monoxide detection, indoor and outdoor cameras and more. Keep your family and possessions safe this fall and all year long with a quality alarm system!
After the hot and dry winter, many of us are actually looking forward to the cooler (and even cold!) weather. Make sure you that your lawn and landscape is ready to face the change in temperature and that you are maximizing your outdoor space so you can still spend time with friends and family outdoors.