Beyond the ordinary

Prepare Your Yard for Fall: A Simple Guide from LT’s Landscaping Service

Fall is a great time to help your yard rest, repair, and get ready for winter. Cool weather means less stress on plants and grass. With the right steps now, your yard will wake up stronger in spring. Below is a clear, simple plan—and why each step matters.

1) Walk the Yard and Make a Plan

What to do: Take 15–20 minutes to walk your lawn and beds. Look for bare spots, weeds, thick leaves, dead branches, clogged gutters, and compacted soil.
Why it helps: A quick check saves time. You fix the real problems first, not just what’s easy to see.

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2) Rake or Mulch the Leaves (Don’t Let Them Smother)

What to do: Keep leaves from piling up on the grass. Rake them, or run a mower with mulch mode to chop them into tiny pieces.
Why it helps: Thick leaf piles block sun and air, which weakens grass and can cause disease. Mulched leaves turn into food for the soil.

Tip: If you can still see some grass through the leaf bits, you mulched enough.

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3) Mow a Little Lower (But Not Too Low)

What to do: For your last few cuts, lower the mower height slightly (around 2.5–3 in.).
Why it helps: Shorter grass going into winter is less likely to mat down or get mold. But cutting too short stresses the lawn—so keep some height.

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4) Aerate Compacted Soil

What to do: Use a core aerator (the kind that pulls plugs) on heavy-traffic areas or the whole lawn.
Why it helps: Aeration lets air, water, and nutrients reach the roots. Grass roots grow deeper when soil can breathe.

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5) Overseed Bare or Thin Spots

What to do: After aeration, spread grass seed on bare patches or thin sections. Water lightly each day until seeds sprout.
Why it helps: Fall seed gets a head start without summer heat. Aeration holes give seeds great contact with soil, which boosts germination.

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6) Feed the Lawn with a Fall Fertilizer

What to do: Use a slow-release fall fertilizer as directed on the bag. Water it in.
Why it helps: Fall feeding builds strong roots and stores energy. Grass uses these reserves to survive winter and green up fast in spring.

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7) Tackle Weeds Now (So They Don’t Return Stronger)

What to do: Hand-pull or spot-treat problem weeds. Don’t let them go to seed.
Why it helps: Weeds steal water and nutrients. Removing them now means fewer weeds next year.

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8) Clean and Refresh Garden Beds

What to do: Pull out dead annuals, cut back perennials that are done, and remove any diseased leaves (throw those away, don’t compost).
Why it helps: Clean beds reduce pests and disease.
Mulch: Add 2–3 inches of fresh mulch to protect roots and hold moisture. Keep mulch a few inches away from trunks and stems to prevent rot.

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9) Smart Pruning (Not Everything Likes a Fall Haircut)

What to do: Remove dead, broken, or crossing branches on trees and shrubs.
Skip heavy pruning on spring-blooming shrubs (like forsythia, lilac, azalea) or you may cut off next spring’s flower buds.
Why it helps: Light pruning improves plant health; saving big cuts for the right season protects next year’s blooms.

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10) Plant for Spring Joy (Bulbs, Trees, and Shrubs)

What to do: Plant fall bulbs (like tulips and daffodils) before the ground freezes. A good rule: plant bulbs 2–3 times as deep as the bulb is tall. Fall is also a great time to plant many trees and shrubs—cool weather helps roots settle in.
Why it helps: You’re investing now for big color and strong growth next year.

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11) Keep Watering Until the Ground Freezes

What to do: Water new seed, new plants, and any dry spots. Then, before hard freezes, shut off and drain outdoor hoses.
Why it helps: Enough moisture in fall supports root growth. Draining hoses prevents damage in winter.

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12) Clear Gutters and Edges

What to do: Clean gutters, edge sidewalks and driveways, and remove debris around the house.
Why it helps: Good drainage protects your foundation and lawn. Clean edges make your yard look crisp and cared for.

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13) Compost and Store Tools Right

What to do: Compost healthy leaves and grass clippings. Clean, sharpen, and store tools dry.
Why it helps: Compost feeds your soil next year. Sharp tools work better and last longer.

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Quick Fall Yard Checklist

 ☐ Walk the yard and list problems
 ☐ Rake or mulch leaves weekly
 ☐ Final mow at \~2.5–3 in.
 ☐ Core aeration (if soil is compacted)
 ☐ Overseed thin/bare areas
 ☐ Apply fall fertilizer
 ☐ Weed control (spot treat/pull)
 ☐ Clean beds; add 2–3 in. mulch
 ☐ Light pruning (dead/damaged only)
 ☐ Plant bulbs, trees, shrubs
 ☐ Water until ground freezes; drain hoses
 ☐ Clear gutters; tidy edges
 ☐ Start a compost pile; clean tools

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 Want a Stress-Free Fall Cleanup?

LT’s Landscaping Service can handle it all: leaf removal, aeration and overseeding, fall fertilizer, bed cleanups, mulching, pruning, and bulb planting. We treat your property like our own and operate in excellence—so you can relax and enjoy the season.

Call or text: 484-262-9347
Serving Delaware County and nearby areas

Book your fall service today and greet spring with a yard that’s ready to shine.