Well, summer’s almost over – the days are getting shorter and the nights are getting crisp.

Even though the days are sunny and warm now, before we know it, we’ll be enjoying another Alberta winter. Now is a great time to start getting your landscaping ready for its long winter slumber and to prepare for a burst of spring colour. Fall is an excellent season for gardening, and here are a few things that you can do right now to get your landscaping ready for next year.

Plant Trees and Shrubs

Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. The root systems grow well in the warm soil but foliage growth slows down at this time of year. If you plant now, root systems will be well established before next summer’s heat. Just be sure to keep new trees and shrubs well watered to prevent them from getting dehydrated by cool, dry winter winds.

Plant Bulbs for a Burst of Spring Colour

Fall is the season for planting new bulbs. They’ll lie dormant over the winter and once the ground starts to warm up in the spring you’ll be treated to an early season burst of colour in your garden. Conversely, fall is the time to dig up summer flowering bulbs that can’t survive outside over winter and bring them indoors.

Don’t Toss Your Leaves

If you have trees that drop leaves in the fall you have a ready and free supply of mulch for your beds. Rake up your leaves and run over them with your lawnmower. If you have a leaf vacuum that grinds them up that’s even better. When leaf mulch is raked onto flower beds, it breaks down quickly and provides much needed nutrients. The extra layer of protection also makes it easier for plants to survive winter as well.

Overseed Your Lawn

Your lawn takes a beating during the hot, dry days of summer, especially if it’s seeded with cool season grass. Fall is an ideal time to overseed your lawn so it will come back thicker and healthier next year. Overseeding is also a great way to gradually replace your existing lawn with hardier grasses.
Fall is an ideal season for gardening and landscaping. The work you do right now will help your lawn and gardens to come back brighter and healthier next year.