Landscaping-End-of-summer cleanup

Give your lawn and garden the care they need by removing debris, dividing crowded perennials, and adding mulch—so plants can come back stronger

- SAL VAGLICA

As sultry August gives way to the cooler months of September and October, fall’s lower temperatures and shorter days signal it’s time to get busy in the yard and garden. “Fall’s cool weather makes it a great time to work outside,” says TOH landscape contractor Jenn Nawada. “Giving plants some attention then sets you up for a healthier landscape come spring.”

Early on, before the leaves start raining down, focus on the lawn. Core-aerate to reduce soil compaction, add compost to improve soil fertility, and overseed to encourage denser turf. Tackling these tasks first allows seedlings to sprout and develop strong roots —then you can move on to the cleanup work ahead.

Tidy up beds and borders

Once autumn leaves have finally fallen, job number one is clearing them out of planting beds. Start by raking them out onto the lawn (where you’ll pick them up later). A narrow shrub rake with stiff metal tines is best for this task, as it can reach under and between plants without getting tangled in them. “Raking beds also fluffs up the soil so water and air can get in,” Jenn says. It exposes weeds, too, which she pulls by hand so they don’t winter over.