Everything You Need To Know To Prepare Your Yard For The Upcoming Seasons
Fall ushers in beautiful leaves and cozy days spent at home with your loved ones. But before settling in to enjoy everything the season has to offer, Canadian Tire and Yahoo Canada are here to help you complete your Fall to-do list. From how to prepare your yard for fall to garage storage tips you need to know, we’re bringing you everything you need.
Another summer has come and gone, and as temperatures begin to cool, it’s time to prepare your yard for a long Winter’s nap.
After months of sun, mowing and play, it’s likely that your lawn is in need of some TLC. Fall presents the perfect opportunity to provide a final dose of nutrients to your grass to help ensure that when the snow melts next spring, your grass is healthy, strong and ready to thrive.
Not sure where to begin? We’ve gathered some helpful tips and tricks to make taking care of your yard this Fall a breeze.
Remove or rake fallen leaves
It might be an arduous task, but as the autumn leaves begin to fall, it’s important to remove them from your yard as soon as possible. While they may look beautiful at first, rain and dew can quickly turn fallen leaves into an eyesore, and a major threat to your lawn’s health. As layers of leaves accumulate, they form a barrier against the sun, suffocating your lawn while also allowing harmful bacteria and fungi to grow and spread.
After a long Winter, the bacteria and pests can cause your lawn to develop brown patches, and the roots of your grass to be unhealthy, and weak.
If you have a smaller yard, try collecting leaves manually, with a Fibreglass Steel Leaf Rake from Yardworks. If you have a lot of area to cover, the Mastercraft 20V Max Blower & Trimmer Combo Kit is an efficient alternative to leaf collection that won’t damage your lawn. Whatever method you choose, finish the process off by collecting and disposing of collective leaves in a sturdy, biodegradable bag, like the Yardworks Leaf Collection System Refill Bags, that won’t puncture or tear during use. If you’re looking for an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional bags, the Lawn & Leaf Chute is a great option. It allows you to rake leaves and debris without straining or tearing of bags, and flattens for easy storage. Better yet, it’s made of 100% recycled materials.
Fertilize and repair
Fall is the perfect time to provide the nutrients your grass needs to grow healthy and strong next spring. As temperatures drop, grass leaves begin to grow less quickly, but beneath the surface its roots and stem continue to grow quickly. By applying a healthy dose of fertilizer, like the Scotts TurfBuilder Fall Lawn Food, grass can withstand the stress of Winter weather.
Reapplying seed to evenly to grass using a spreader like the Scotts Turf Builder Mini Edgeguard on any patchy areas before the first snowfall is another easy way to ensure that come springtime, your lawn will be lush, full and healthy.
Protect your shrubs
Landscaping is expensive, which is why it’s important to protect your shrubs and bushes to ensure their survival through Winter. Before the first cold snap, water your bushes and shrubs liberally and choose a covering that can help protect any shrubbery from Winter weather conditions.
Wrapping your shrub or tree in a burlap wrap is an easy and effective way to protect your plant from Winter winds and freezing rain. Other coverings, like the NuVue Winter Plant/Shrub Cover, protect your shrub or plant in a mesh covering, while still allowing enough sunlight to foster healthy growth.
Store patio furniture
Just like protecting your garden and yard, it’s important to take care of your patio furniture by putting it away for the Winter. Plastic outdoor furniture can crack in Winter temperatures, while metal furniture can rust. To ensure the integrity of your furniture year-round, bring all patio chairs, tables and umbrellas indoors to a basement, or to a garage and store any patio cushions in a separate canvas bag in a cool, dry area, to avoid mildew.
If storage is limited, there are outdoor storage shed alternatives built to weather Canadian climate year-round. Canadian Tire has a wide selection of sheds for whatever your storage needs may be. For smaller spaces, and balconies, a deck box is a good space-saving option.
