Fall Yard Cleanup Checklist

22 items · Home · Medium difficulty · 1 weekend

A fall yard cleanup checklist in the order that avoids redoing work: gutters, leaves, lawn, beds, tools and hoses.

• Look up your local first frost date

  Use it to decide which jobs are urgent.

• Bring tender potted plants indoors before the first frost

  Check leaves and soil for insects before they come inside.

• Harvest remaining vegetables and herbs
• 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.

• Rake or blow leaves off the lawn

  A thick mat of wet leaves left on grass can smother it over winter.

• Compost or mulch the leaves

  Shredded leaves make a useful mulch for beds.

• Mow the lawn one last time at a slightly lower setting

  Long grass can mat down under snow.

• Overseed or feed the lawn if it needs it

  Check the label of your product for the right time of year.

• Cut back spent perennials

  Leave any with seed heads if you want to feed birds.

• Pull annuals and weeds from the beds

  Weeds that go to seed now come back in spring.

• Plant spring bulbs

  Plant them before the ground freezes.

• Add a layer of mulch around tender plants and roots
• Prune only what needs pruning now

  Dead or damaged branches can go. Many shrubs are better pruned at another time of year.

• Drain and store garden hoses

  Water left in a hose can freeze and split it.

• Turn off and drain outdoor faucets and sprinkler lines

  Follow the shut-off steps for your own system.

• Clean and sharpen tools, then store them dry

  A rag with a little oil keeps blades from rusting.

• Empty and clean planters, or move them under cover

  Ceramic pots can crack if wet soil freezes.

• Drain the fuel or add stabilizer to the mower and trimmer

  Check the manual for the right method.

• Clean and cover patio furniture, or bring it in
• Clean the bird feeders and bird baths
• Check fences, gates and steps for damage before winter

  A loose board is easier to fix now than in the snow.

• Check that you have salt or sand and a shovel for the winter

Printed from TickYouOff — the interactive version tracks your progress and can be shared with others.