As the fall weather sets in and conditions grow cool and damp, fall yard care becomes a pressing matter for those who own a garden.
To assist with your fall cleanup project, Cornell Design & Landscaping offers a yard care service and covers everything from tree trimming to lawn care.
Leslie Cornell is the owner and founder of Cornell Design & Landscaping. “We would come in and clean up the beds for you, get that all cleaned, and rake up the grass,” she said.
Fall projects can start any time once the weather begins to cool, and Cornell suggests starting your project once deciduous leaves begin to turn colour.
Yard care service
Cornell’s yard care service includes fall cleaning, mulching, and hedge trimming or removal.
“In the fall, when you’ve got all the leaves piling up and you’ve got dead plant material and some trimming that needs doing, (we are here to help),” Cornell explained. “If you want the bags of leaves for yourself, we can bag them for you or we can haul them away as well.”
“It’s a good time to trim a lot of plants in the flower beds. Some plants are best left for the winter and allowed to catch snow, (as) it gives them protection on the crown of the plant,” she said.
It’s difficult to make a broad statement as to when you can prune your plants, as differences exist across species.
“For example, lilacs need to be pruned after they’ve finished flowering,” Cornell explained. Typically, shrubs like lilacs are pruned in the late spring to early summer. “If you trim them in the fall, then you may cut off your flower buds for the next year.”
“Then there are things kept more as a hedge. Those are good to be trimmed in the late fall,” she added.
“In a normal year, by the end of September and early October we could be doing our pruning. Sometimes it’s better to wait until mid-October…,” she said. It’s always a tricky matter given the wide variety of conditions during the change in Saskatchewan’s seasons.
Lawn care
When it comes to lawn care, most grass species are resilient, but gardeners are still faced with the possibility of mould and other concerns.
“If your grass is too long, it can fold over and make more mould. If you keep leaves on the lawn, they can definitely make a good place for mould to form over the winter,” explained Cornell.
Some people like to keep out leaves to shelter small insects like lady bugs, and if you do, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for potential mould growth.
“Too much mould can cause the grass to get damaged and maybe even kill spots of it," she said.
Grass can be left a bit longer to provide added protection from the cold. "You can leave it a little longer, but not where it needs a haircut,” Cornell explained.
Grass should also be watered less as winter approaches, in order to allow the rhizome to go dormant by the time winter arrives.
Annuals
When it comes to annuals, a good rule of thumb is to observe the plant’s performance. If they’re still looking good and flowering, then there’s no rush to have them pulled.
Fall is a good time to trim plants and clean up flower beds. Some annuals can be left until they die back, but it’s good practice to remove a few each week and avoid a single last-minute effort. If you want to leave them, some plants can help shelter certain insects and provide winter interest.
In some cases, the change from hot and dry weather to cooler and wetter fall conditions may allow some poor-performing plants to display renewed vigour.
Roses
Roses are considered by many to be harder to grow, and they make an excellent example for perennial plant care.
Roses should not be pruned in the fall, as this can trigger new growth and cause severe damage as the cold sets in. A fresh cut can trigger growth and interrupts the plant from going dormant.
The same concept can be applied to all perennials, but care must be taken to research each specific plant and its needs. Whereas some plants can thrive on neglect, others — especially if you’re pushing the climate zone — may need to be cut back and insulated well in advance of the first frost.
Cornell Design & Landscaping is open throughout the year. The greenhouse closes as weather turns cool around the end of September. In the spring, summer, and fall, the company maintains a Monday to Friday yard care service, and during the winter months snow removal is available as needed.
Yard care services are available until weather conditions change and is also based on demand.
For the 2024 growing season, the greenhouse is expected to open around Monday, April 1.
For confirmation on business hours, Cornell Design & Landscaping can be reached at 306-693-8733.
More information can be found on the company’s website at CornellTrees.com.
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