Fall Landscaping Ideas To Keep Your Outdoor Lush And Healthy

Just because the summer sun isn’t as bright in the fall doesn’t mean your outside space has to follow suit! There are numerous methods to make your garden shine with color and intrigue as the seasons change. Upscale landscaping ideas or classic outdoor fall decorations such as pumpkins, mums, and hay bales are a good place to start, but why not take it a step further by doing modern landscaping projects and incorporating fall flowers? 

It may appear contradictory, but working on your garden and landscaping throughout the fall makes a lot of sense. Not only does this transitional period provide an excellent opportunity to ease into the new season, but it also allows you to prepare your yard for the winter months ahead. Growing fall veggies and evergreens, tidying up your yard, and decorating your outdoor space will result in long-lasting changes to your garden that you may enjoy for seasons—and even years—to come.

Still trying to figure out where to start? Let our fall landscaping ideas inspire you.

Clear Out Your Yard:

It’s a fantastic idea to undertake yard maintenance and tidying during the final weeks of summer. Here are some ideas for preparing a ship-shape autumnal yard for the upcoming cold months and, finally, the return of spring:

• Address any straggling weeds.
• When annuals are past their peak, remove them.
• Get rid of thatch, which is the accumulation of debris, dead grass, and roots between the surface of the soil and the grass.
• Address the bald areas in your yard by overseeding and applying lawn fertilizer.

Plant shrubs and trees:

Unexpectedly, planting evergreen and decorative trees in your yard is best done in the fall! Before the summer heat sets in, October’s temperature and soil conditions can help trees build a robust root system. Boxwood, spruce, and pine trees are good choices if you’re searching for evergreens. On the other hand, plant dogwood, redbud, Japanese, or sugar maple trees to bring gorgeous fall colors into your yard.

Grow Fall Vegetables:

Your bounty of homegrown veggies doesn’t have to end just because summer has! In late August or September, you may plant many fall vegetables that grow quickly. Young harvesting is possible for most greens, including spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and root crops. These will also give your room a ton of color and texture. 

Cut Off Dead Limbs:

Weak or dead branches may break due to winter winds, possibly injuring people or damaging your property. You can hire tree removal experts for large-scale tasks. Smaller pruning jobs on ornamental trees, however, are something you can do yourself. Taking preventative measures shields your trees from future harm and encourages stronger development in the spring.

To keep your Atlanta, GA, landscape design looking healthy overall and to prevent accidents, regularly check your trees for weak or dead limbs. Cut limbs that are loose, broken, or unhealthy near the trunk but not quite flush with it. Allow the wounds from pruning to heal naturally.

Add An Outdoor Fireplace Or Firepit To Add Warmth:

Autumnal evenings are ideal for gathering around a warm fire, enjoying cider, and exchanging tales. Putting in an outdoor fireplace or firepit in your yard invites friends and family to gather and enjoy the charm of the season while also adding warmth.

Consider using container plants:

Potted plants are not only lovely accents to any outdoor space but can also be moved inside (referred to as “overwintering”) if the weather becomes too cold for them to stay outside.

For fall container arrangements, combine hardy succulents like echeveria with pansies and violas. The succulents can then be potted and placed indoors for a wonderful display to enjoy throughout the winter.

Incorporate Decorative Accents:

A straightforward obelisk or trellis can serve as a garden focal point even well beyond the first frost. To make your winter garden visually appealing, put it somewhere that can be seen from the inside. 

Bonus: For the holidays, add lights to it!

Fall Lawn Care Checklist for Atlanta Homeowners

Overseeding and Aeration of Fescue

Aerating and overseeding cool-season grasses, such as tall fescue, is best done in the fall when they are just beginning their growing season. In Georgia, October is typically the ideal month for overseeding because the soil is sufficiently chilly to encourage the best growth for your newly installed grass. Atlanta’s long, steamy summers may be taxing on fescue lawns. For this reason, the easiest strategy to renew an Atlanta fescue lawn is to seed it every fall. Core aeration helps release compaction, break up thatch, and prepare the soil for optimal seed-to-soil contact before planting. For optimal results, irrigate your newly planted seed frequently throughout the first few weeks after planting.

Fall Weed Control for Warm-Season Grass

Warm-season grasses in Atlanta often prepare for winter dormancy in the early fall. And, while Bermuda and Zoysia lawns rest for the winter, troublesome weeds do not! Preventative weed treatment is recommended in the fall to help decrease the number of weeds in winter. Pre-emergent herbicides are designed to prevent weed germination in soil and should be sprayed throughout the year. This is the key to effective weed management for Atlanta lawns: prevent weeds from sprouting! When spring arrives next year, you’ll be glad you didn’t miss fall and winter pre-emergents on your grass.

Raking Leaves and Yard Clean-up

Raking leaves is less enjoyable as an adult than a child. But it’s an important fall lawn care task. Color-changing leaves are a lovely aspect of autumn, but they may be a nuisance on your lawn. Too many leaves on your lawn can suffocate the turf and prevent essential elements such as water, air, sunlight, and fertilizer from reaching the soil. A small coating of leaves is not a cause for concern, but heavy leaf coverage can harm healthy grass. Leaves can be bagged and removed or used as mulch in other areas of your yard.

Fall Fertilization for Atlanta Lawns

Applying lawn fertilizer throughout the summer is a no-brainer for any DIY lawn care enthusiast. But fall fertilization should not be neglected. After hot, stressful Atlanta summers, lawns require essential nutrients to replace carbohydrates in the plant before winter. Fertilizers contain potassium and phosphorus, which help boost winter hardiness, promote better grassroots, and prepare the lawn for the following spring. Furthermore, fall and winter are ideal times for soil testing to identify nutrient deficiencies.  

Enjoy a Green, Lush Atlanta Lawn in the Fall 

The fall season comes with many chores for the diligent lawn owner. You need to aerate and mow a certain way, keep track of soil temperature, rake leaves, and kill pests. If you’re overwhelmed and want more time with your family, leave this to a pro. Outdoor Makeover and Living Spaces – Atlanta’s #1 backyard landscaping company offers top-notch backyard makeover services that you will love. Contact us today and enjoy the comfort of a green, lush lawn in the fall – without all the extra work!

Book your landscape design consultation in Atlanta today!

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