Fall Landscape Maintenance in Maine

Fall landscape maintenance can help ensure your lawn gets off to a great start when the warm weather returns in the spring. However, what steps should you take before the winter weather rolls in and do you still need to have the lawnmower ready to go?

Does My Landscape Need Fall Maintenance?

Summer is over (*sigh*) so that means no more weekly maintenance like mowing the lawn, weeding, or pruning. Right? Not exactly.

Just as people close up their pool for the season, there are steps you can take to “close up” your landscape for the season. Trust us when we say a fall maintenance schedule is essential for your landscape’s longevity.

Preventative Maintenance

A good way to look at fall landscape maintenance is to compare it to motor vehicle maintenance. The reason we get our vehicles serviced is to prevent future problems. Whether it’s oil changes, or tune ups, these steps can help keep our vehicles running smoothly and reduce the chance of breakdowns.

Such is the case with fall landscape maintenance in Maine. Mainers know the damage the winter can inflict on our landscape. That’s why preparing your landscape can reduce the damage. It can also make it easier for you when the warmer weather arrives. Why get off on the wrong foot when it’s spring and have to repair winter damage that could have been avoided?

Do’s and Don’ts

This list of do’s and don’ts can help you ensure that your landscape is setup for long term success, especially as we move into the colder months.

Don’t put away the lawnmower. While it would be nice to retire the mower for the season, chances are your lawn is still growing and you want to keep it under control.
Don’t put away your garden hose/sprinkler system. Naturally you’ll stop once temperatures reach the freezing point but until then, make sure your landscape doesn’t get thirsty.
Do remove leaves. You’ll want to remove any leaf cover, even if your lawnmower has a mulch setting.
Do remove thatch. You want to give your grass ample access to water and nutrients before it takes its long winter nap.
Do aerate your lawn. Aerating a lawn helps maximize air, water, and nutrients reaching the grass’ roots.
Do test your soil. Testing your soil can give you a better idea of what your lawn needs when the springtime rolls around. That way you’re prepared to apply the right fertilizer and any other treatment the lawn needs to get off to a strong start in the new year.
Do inspect your lawn. Check for thin spots. If your lawn has thin spots, this is the best time to seed it.
Do fertilize your lawn. Apply fertilizer about six weeks prior to when the first frost is predicted.
Do get your lawnmower ready for the winter. Spring will be here sooner than you think and you’ll want to make sure your lawnmower as well as your lawn gets through the winter.

Fall Landscape Maintenance in Maine: Your Many Options

Davis Landscape can help you with your fall landscape maintenance. Whether it’s a residential landscape or a commercial landscape, we can help you make sure it’s ready for the coming winter.

Whether you need help with a specific area of maintenance or you want to have us handle everything, Davis Landscape is here to help. We are a family-owned business spanning two generations, and we’re proud of the fact that we’ve been beautifying the state of Maine since 1976!