With fall approaching, you’ll need to ramp up your landscaping and garden maintenance to prepare for the cold weather. This way, the plants will thrive throughout the winter and grow stronger in the spring. Here are a few tips to prepare the garden for cooler temperatures, so it stays beautiful all season long. 

How to Get Your Landscaping Ready for Autumn

1. Deadhead, Don’t Prune

When the warm season is over, your summer-based flowers will die and wither. Clear some space in the garden by clipping dead buds from flowers, trimming dead branches, and pulling dead plants that won’t flower again. Resist the urge to prune live branches or blossoms—this encourages the flowers to grow and attempt to bloom, which isn’t good for them during autumn. This way, you’ll have strong, healthy plants once spring arrives.

2. Protect Plants

By protecting your landscaping before the first frost, the plants will return healthy next season. Spread mulch in the flowerbeds to keep roots moist and protected from the cold. Any time you’re expecting frost or winter weather, place buckets and sheets over small plants and decorative shrubbery to shield them from damage.

3. Plant Seasonal Flowers

If you have hanging plants or windowsill arrangements, then switch out the summer flowers for fall-friendly blooms. Include calendula, snapdragons, petunias, geraniums, or marigolds. Also, take the time to think ahead to spring. Many flowers that bloom in spring can be planted in autumn, giving them time to grow until they’re ready to blossom, including daffodils, glory-of-the-snow, and grape hyacinth.

4. Maintain the Lawn

Don’t forget to care for the lawn and decorative grasses, as well. Trim dead or withered grasses down and plant new seeds that can survive during the winter months, such as fescue and rye. Planting them now will let the roots grow strong enough to withstand the first frost.

In St. Peters, MO, let Done Right Landscapes handle your garden and landscaping maintenance needs. With 15 years of experience in lawn care and an A+ BBB® rating, they provide elite services that bring your landscaping visions to life, from creating luxurious outdoor living spaces to installing drainage solutions. For more information about their services, visit their website. Call (636) 489-4815 to set up a free consultation.