How to Prepare Your Grounds for Fall & Winter
Landscaping isn’t a pursuit that can be abandoned once the last leaf falls. From leaf removal to the winterization of irrigation systems, lawn prep, and more, your team at Rossen is here to help with all your seasonal yard demands
The best defense is a reliable plan — and a trusted team.
As any homeowner knows, landscaping isn’t a pursuit that can be abandoned once the last leaf falls. After all, you’ve invested too much in your outdoor oasis to throw in the towel now! The best defense against any surprises the upcoming months have in store? A well-thought-out plan. From leaf removal to the winterization of irrigation systems, lawn prep, and more, your team at Rossen is here to help with all your seasonal yard demands — including the ones you didn’t even know you needed. Read on to learn about some of the top fall & winter maintenance services we offer today so you can leave the lawn-protecting to the pros, keep your curb appeal intact, and spend your time on what matters most: enjoying the bounty of the season.
#1 Leaf Removal:
Leaf removal is an essential aspect of any good landscape maintenance routine — particularly in the fall and early winter, when trees shed their leaves. A few reasons why you should consider adding this service into your seasonal rotation? Getting rid of accumulated leaves helps to maintain the visual appeal of your landscape and stops mold or disease living in piles of decaying leaves from harming your lawn. And then there’s the fact that leaves left on the ground can actually shield your grass from getting the light it needs, therefore opening the door for an an uneven lawn surface down the line.
#2 Planting & Lawn Prep:
Tending to fallen leaves is a great start, but there are other steps you should take to ensure your lawn flourishes even as we brace for the colder months ahead, like cultivating your collection of plants. Since we typically see milder temperatures and soil that’s retained some of its summer warmth throughout the autumn weeks, planting new life in the fall will allow roots to take hold before the onset of winter, setting the stage for more resilient, sustained growth. An added bonus? There’s typically more natural rainfall leading up to winter, reducing the need for supplemental watering. This helps newly planted trees, shrubs, and perennials thrive with less risk of drought stress.
Now, we realize that general lawn prep may not hold the same allure as helping new plants put down roots, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t emphasize the equally vital role laying the groundwork plays in your autumn planning. One of the offerings we generally recommend focusing on in the fall? Aeration, which involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the root zone. Aeration helps reduce soil compaction, promotes root growth, and improves overall lawn health. Fall is also an ideal time for overseeding — the process of spreading grass seed over your existing lawn — because cooler temperatures and increased moisture promote optimal germination and establishment of new grass. And in case you were wondering: Yes, you should continue mowing your lawn come fall, gradually reducing the grass height with the shortening days. An insider tip? The last mow of the season should leave your grass at a slightly lower level than usual to help deter snow mold from forming.
#3 Winterizing Irrigation Systems:
Your irrigation system is the lifeblood of your lawn, which makes winterizing it a valuable investment you can’t afford to skip. The primary purpose of winterization? To protect your irrigation system from freezing temperatures. When water freezes inside the pipes, it expands, which can precipitate pipe bursts, cracked fittings, and dismantled components throughout the entire system. Of course, repairing the ensuing damage can be as expensive as it is time-consuming. Luckily, winterizing is the best cost-effective preventive measure available to help ward off the need for costly repairs come spring. Beyond budgetary concerns, winterizing also prolongs the lifespan of your system and conserves water along the way.
#4 Snow & Ice Removal:
Whether you’re counting down the days until your yard becomes a winter wonderland or already dreading the burden of blizzard-induced cleanup, the absence of a snow management plan in place can lead you down a slippery slope overnight. Not only can the added weight of accumulated snow or ice severely damage trees, shrubs, and structures, but the ice-covered walkways, driveways, and outdoor surfaces of your home can pose a significant post-storm safety hazard to family and friends. But not to fear: Removing snow & ice promptly from plant branches, roofs, and gutters can stop breakage, structural damage, and compromised insulation at the source.
Feeling overwhelmed by your growing landscape to-do list? Let us take all that stress off your plate so you can sit back and enjoy the season while knowing your yard is in professional, trusted hands. Get in touch with our team today to come up with a fall & winter maintenance plan that works for you.
