Winter is just around the corner, and as scary as it sounds, you’ve only got a few weekends to get your lawn in tip-top shape before the snow flies. Unfortunately, due to the sun setting early, most people don’t have time to do yard-work after work – besides who wants to work ALL day long? Not sure where to begin with the little amount of time you have? Take a look at this list of common things you can do to improve your lawn this fall for next spring and follow the links for more how-to’s and tips.

(Photo Source: ishane)

Give the Lawn a Final, Shorter Mow
Drop the height of your mower’s blade one notch to cut the grass shorter as you prepare for fall. Having shorter grass will prevent the buildup of dead grass come spring.
Read more here…

Add Seed
If your lawn has thin or dead grass spots (in the north) or has rye grass (in the south), be sure to overseed this fall. Be sure to spread the seed evenly and keep the areas moist at first and eventually fade out watering. Roots will grow deeper into the soil that way. Read more here…

Fertilize
Grass is a huge fan of the fall – it loves the cooler nights, adequate rainfall and the morning dew. Because of the summer damage your lawn endured with the scorching heat, it is best to feed your lawn nutrients before winter. By fertilizing in the fall, you’ll strengthen its roots and increase the nitrogen it stores for the early spring. Read more here…

(Photo Source: WI DNR)

Spray Weeds that are Perennial
Now’s the time to kill those weeds that you know will come back around in the spring! Fall is the best time to spray them, provided they are still green. As they prepare for winter, they will absorb herbicides easier – so by providing a fall application, you take advantage of this by getting those weeds under control. Read more here…

Remove Thatch and Aerate 
Thatch is a layer of dead grass and weeds that threatens the health of your grass. Use a power rake or vertical mower to remove thatch and then use another rake to pick up the thatch and dispose of it. By removing thatch, you can prevent disease and insect problems for your lawn. To cut down on the amount of thatch that develops, make sure to aerate your lawn every few years. It will also improve the drainage and loosen the soil. Read more here…

(Photo Source: M. Markus)

Remove Fallen Leaves
Once the leaves have fallen from the trees that stand in your yard, be sure to rake them and set aside for disposal. Allowing fallen leaves to remain on your lawn can ultimately kill grasses or aid in insect and disease problems. Many cities will host leaf pick-ups where all you have to do is leave them in clumps near the street! Contact your city or village of residence to find out more about fall leaf clean-up in your area. PS, don’t forget to remove the leaves from your gutters too! Read more here… 

Drain Hoses and Irrigation Systems
And when winter is about to come knocking at your door, be sure to drain your hoses and irrigation systems and turn off the water if it will freeze in your area. Read more here… 

Happy Weekend!

With every dropping leaf, we are reminded fall is here. And as you shed a tear at each fading bloom in your garden, don’t forget – those bountiful perennials that provide summer-long color will be back before you know it next spring. But before you hang up your shovel and gardening gloves, keep them out a weekend or two longer. You’ve got some perennials to divide (and fall bulbs to plant)!

If you’re looking for more bang for your buck when it comes to gardening, than perennials are a great investment. Overtime perennials should to be divided to allow for proper growth of the existing plant, but once you divide them, you magically have more to plant elsewhere in your garden and enjoy. As perennials get more compact, they fight for nutrients and water, so don’t skip this simple and rewarding step.

Check out these Instructions from the blog, FlowerBulbCrazy:

1. Make sure you do not divide perennials while they are flowering. Save those to divide in spring
2. Cloudy days work best, so you can work as slow as you like. Then the roots will not dry out.
3. Cut back perennials before digging them out.
4. When diving perennials dig up the entire root ball and then split it with shovel or sharp spade. If needed, use a hose to remove dirt so you can better see which roots can be easily divided.
5. Now you are ready to replant your perennials, plant at the proper depth in well-draining soil and after re-planting be sure to provide enough water until it thoroughly soaks through the soil.
6. Keep the new and old perennials well-watered over the next few weeks to ensure great establishment in their new location.

Here are a few other tips we came across for successfully dividing perennials:

• If you can, plan to divide perennials just a few days before a rain shower
• Use organic soil and add nutrients to new soil to help promote healthy growth
• In many perennials, one stem likely triples or quadruples itself each year, so don’t be too strict in dividing
• Don’t replant parts of the perennials that don’t look healthy
• Spread out the roots in a starburst pattern i the hole you’ve dug to promote healthy roots and to prevent them from getting too compact again too fast

A few other fall gardening chores to include in your weekend outside: bringing your container plants indoors to avoid being swallowed by the cold, planting flower bulbs, and harvesting seeds from perennials and flowers, and again you’ll have more to grow.