We've all been counting the days for fall to arrive. This is also the time of year when you need to think about your commercial landscaping needs. Taking care of your landscape during the fall months can be tricky, as you want to make sure that all of your plants survive the winter. Moreover, you must also be able to sustain an attractive garden for the next spring. It's never too early to start preparing your commercial landscape for the cooler seasons. Here are some helpful commercial fall landscaping tips to consider.
Keep your plants watered
Cold weather is coming, and so should the water. Your plants need plenty of water, especially if they've been suffering from excessive heat during the summer months. This is especially important for cool-season grass.
Watering shouldn't stop when the leaves start falling and dry up completely, or weeds might appear. Be sure to provide adequate irrigation throughout winter so their root systems can remain healthy and active while keeping themselves warm. But remember that over-watering can damage certain plants. You can let rainfall do the job, especially when you already have a healthy, established lawn.
Aerate your turf
Compacted soil can limit the soil’s oxygen and restricts the development of the roots. Aeration, which refers to the process of perforating the soil, helps ensure that your soil can breathe more easily. It also allows air, water, and nutrients to pass through and reach the roots below. Aeration will help your lawn stand up against the coldness of winter as well as summer's heat.
Consider overseeding
This is something to consider as fall approaches. Overseeding refers to sowing grass seed over your existing turf. This will help your lawn look fresh and green, even during the winter months. It can be especially effective if you overseed your lawn with rye or another cool-season variety of grasses, like Kentucky bluegrass.
Don't cut down all of your plants
Instead of cutting down your plants, it’s best to prune them in order to adequately prepare for winter dormancy after they've dropped their leaves or flowers (in the case of perennials). Pruning is highly recommended in order to cut back on the amount of dead foliage and dry branches that are left to decompose over the winter. However, be sure not to cut down everything, since you might need some leaves or other natural debris for insulation purposes later in fall and during winter.
Clear away any debris, such as fallen leaves, from your commercial landscape
Colorful leaves are pretty to look at during fall, but they can also clog up drainage systems and soil pores. They may also prevent sunlight from reaching grass blades, which can kill off your lawn eventually. That’s why it’s important to rake your grass regularly.
On the other hand, cutting back certain tree limbs may be necessary so they don't damage anything underneath once the snow starts piling up.
Control weeds
Weeds are plant pests. It’s important to take care of weeds before their seeds set out into the open air, otherwise, they are likely to blossom later when spring comes. Fall is the best time to control weeds since most plants are still alive and not yet dormant.
Add a pop of color to your commercial landscape
Any commercial property can have an increased curb appeal when you use color. Consider adding seasonal plantings that can give your commercial property a welcoming vibe.
Many commercial landscapers offer fall color options, like chrysanthemums, mums, pansies, and begonias. Keep in mind that these plants are temporary since they'll eventually get covered with snow once winter comes.
Fertilize your lawn
Applying a commercial lawn fertilizer before winter is important for the long-term health of your turf. Fertilizing helps promote new growth and allows plants to better withstand cold temperatures.
On the other hand, perennials require less fertilization as compared with cool-season grasses, because they become dormant during fall and winter until spring comes around again. This means that there's no need for them to be actively growing now, which makes it unnecessary to give them additional nutrients. However, do remember that perennials also benefit from some amount of fertilizer since this can help replenish any lost nutrients due to snowfall or bad weather conditions. You might want to consider placing organic mulch around them to help maintain your soil’s health.
Commercial lawns need extra care in order to survive through all seasons. Follow these fall landscaping tips to ensure the health of your commercial lawn all year round.
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