Fall is an opportune time to set up your backyard for year-round success.
Work put into landscaping in the fall determines the quality of the space for
all of your family’s backyarding activities, from family football games at
Thanksgiving and Easter egg hunts in the spring, to taking your office to the
back patio and meditation in a backyard hammock.
“Work in your yard, and it will work for you. That’s always been our motto, but
it’s particularly important to follow this credo in the fall when we can make
the most impact in our yards,” says Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation, which encourages people to care for and use the green space
around them. “You don’t have to break the bank to create a backyard that will
serve many purposes for your family year-round.”
Here are six money-saving hacks for creating the backyard of your dreams from
the TurfMutt Foundation:
1. Clean
out flower beds & add mulch. Simply cleaning out your
flower beds (use a leaf blower to make quick work of the task) and adding a
fresh layer of mulch works wonders. New mulch not only holds weeds at bay, it
also helps retain moisture around plants, trees and shrubs.
2. Prune
bushes & trees. Trimming bushes, shrubs, and trees is
another inexpensive way to make a big impact in your yard’s aesthetic. Use a
chainsaw, trimmer or hedger to remove dead or dying branches and stems. This
preserves the health of the main branch and improves the shape of the plant.
Pruning also encourages plants to flower later.
3. Keep
grass mowed and weeded. Regular lawn mowing helps your grass
stay healthy and strong and improves the overall appearance of your yardscape
without spending much money. In the fall, cut your lawn shorter than during the
rest of the growing season and continue to mow until your grass goes into
hibernation for the winter.
READ MORE: 3 ways to save the planet in your own backyard
4. Pick
perennials. Perennials – those cold-hardy plant species that
will return again in the spring – are a smart money choice because you only
have to buy them once to enjoy them for years to come.
5. Plant
climate-appropriate species. Native plants – those that occur
naturally in your region – are a smart buy any time of the year. They are more
likely to thrive in your micro-climate without much maintenance or watering.
They are also better for local wildlife and pollinators and help preserve the
balance of the natural ecosystem.
6. Look
for deals. Many nurseries and home improvement stores offer
end-of-season sales on landscaping essentials from plants to outdoor power
equipment (mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, etc.) that make even big backyarding
tasks easier.
For more information, sign up for Mutt Mail, a
monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt
Foundation here.
To learn more about creating the yard of your dreams, visit TurfMutt.com.
Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show. Here is a link to download the "International Backyarding Fact Book", to learn why spending
time in our yards and community parks is good for us…and the planet.
Other articles by HVP News Reporters