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Fall Yard Cleanup Checklist

Medium 22 items · 1 weekend
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testuser Published 2 weeks ago Updated 1 week ago
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Some fall yard jobs have a deadline and some can wait. This list sorts them for a yard with a lawn, a few beds and some trees, in a climate that gets frost, and puts them in the order that saves you doing a job twice.

Wait until most leaves are down, then clear the gutters and roof edge before you rake. Otherwise you clear the lawn and a windy afternoon fills it again with leaves from the roof.

Frost dates depend on where you live. Look up your local first frost date and count back from it, because the tender jobs (bringing plants in, draining hoses) have to happen before it and the tidy jobs can wait.

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  1. Look up your local first frost date — Use it to decide which jobs are urgent.
  2. Bring tender potted plants indoors before the first frost — Check leaves and soil for insects before they come inside.
  3. Harvest remaining vegetables and herbs
  4. Clear the gutters and downspouts — Do it once most of the leaves are off the roof line, and use a stable ladder with someone holding it.
  5. Rake or blow leaves off the lawn — A thick mat of wet leaves left on grass can smother it over winter.
  6. Compost or mulch the leaves — Shredded leaves make a useful mulch for beds.
  7. Mow the lawn one last time at a slightly lower setting — Long grass can mat down under snow.
  8. Overseed or feed the lawn if it needs it — Check the label of your product for the right time of year.
  9. Cut back spent perennials — Leave any with seed heads if you want to feed birds.
  10. Pull annuals and weeds from the beds — Weeds that go to seed now come back in spring.
  11. Plant spring bulbs — Plant them before the ground freezes.
  12. Add a layer of mulch around tender plants and roots
  13. Prune only what needs pruning now — Dead or damaged branches can go. Many shrubs are better pruned at another time of year.
  14. Drain and store garden hoses — Water left in a hose can freeze and split it.
  15. Turn off and drain outdoor faucets and sprinkler lines — Follow the shut-off steps for your own system.
  16. Clean and sharpen tools, then store them dry — A rag with a little oil keeps blades from rusting.
  17. Empty and clean planters, or move them under cover — Ceramic pots can crack if wet soil freezes.
  18. Drain the fuel or add stabilizer to the mower and trimmer — Check the manual for the right method.
  19. Clean and cover patio furniture, or bring it in
  20. Clean the bird feeders and bird baths
  21. Check fences, gates and steps for damage before winter — A loose board is easier to fix now than in the snow.
  22. Check that you have salt or sand and a shovel for the winter
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