Household Tips

Our friends at Troy-Bilt have published a fall garden checklist that I will be following this weekend!

– Walk around your landscaping - Remove any flowers or shrubs that didn’t grow well and tidy up the area for new bulbs; perennial planting is best in early fall. Make a note of what plants didn’t work and try something new next year. Weed beds now to prevent pesky weeds from growing next spring. Remove decorative stones or collectibles from gardens and bring them inside.

– Fertilize the lawn - Fall is a great time to fertilize, reseed and touch up bare spots before temperatures plunge. Try fertilizing and reseeding once in early fall and once in late October. This process pumps nutrients such as phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium into the roots, giving them a boost to grow in the spring.

– Add leaves to the soil - Instead of raking leaves out of the flower beds, spend a few extra minutes tilling them into the soil to enrich it for next season. Chop up extra leaves with a quick pass of the lawn mower and add to a compost pile, or take them to the nearest recycling center.

– Plant new bulbs - Spring flowers like tulips, daffodils and hyacinths should be planted in the fall to develop healthy root systems before the soil cools.

– Clean up the vegetable garden - Start preparing your garden for next spring by cleaning out dead plants and adding in organic matter from your compost pile. Be sure to till the soil well to help to refresh the soil’s nutrient levels by breaking down old vegetable organic matter.

– Trim trees - Remove all dead or dying tree limbs before the snow starts to fall. Snow or ice can build up on weak branches, causing damage to property and bystanders. Trim healthy trees after leaves turn to encourage healthy growth next spring. For easy cleanup, place an old sheet or tarp underneath the tree to catch the trimmings.

– Prep your hand tools - Grab a wire brush and scrape off the caked-on dirt from tools such as hoes and shovels, then clean with soapy water. Wipe metal surfaces with an oiled rag. Lubricate all pivot points and springs and wipe down wooden handles with boiled linseed oil to prevent drying and cracking. Sharpen bladed tools like pruners, and spray bare metal with a penetrating oil to prevent rusting.

– Prep your lawn equipment - Empty the gas tank and oil crankcase of lawn mowers, string trimmers and edgers. Wipe the entire unit down with a clean rag to protect its surfaces and grease all lubrication points. Store your lawn equipment in a clean, dry place. If equipment is light enough, hang on the wall in the garage.

– Check sprinklers and hoses - Make sure to drain all hoses to avoid freezing and breaking. If you have a sprinkler system, shut it off to prevent pipes from freezing, and store extra hoses in the garage, shed or basement.

– Wash down lawn furniture - Give the lawn furniture a good cleaning before you store it away. Wash all fabric cushions and store those inside, out of damp weather conditions. Move ceramic fireplaces into the basement; extreme cold weather can cause the pots to crack or break completely.

Fall, checklist, garden