Fall is a beautiful time with brightly colored leaves swirling around and covering the ground. And as much as homeowners enjoy beautiful red and golden leaves, it also means a lot of fall yard leaf cleanup and raking is on the way. What’s the importance of fall cleanup for your property? Fall cleanup is not just an aesthetic task, it is actually important for the health of the grass and other plants in your garden.

Maintaining a healthy lawn isn’t an easy task overall and making sure the lawn is prepared well to survive harsh winter months is paramount during fall time. If you are too busy, you can look for fall leaf clean and lawn cleanup services in Edmonton to get you set for winter. Luckily, there are several ways to make fall yard cleanup easier and less cumbersome for you. You can use leaf blowers, lawn vacuums, or any number of different tools to remove debris from your lawn.

And to make your fall cleanup even more efficient, here is a checklist you can follow for your fall cleanup:

1. Trees pruning or Hedge trimming

If you have any trees or hedges that require maintenance, then do these tasks first, so you can remove large branches and debris before doing other tasks. You can use either a manual hedge trimmer that requires a lot of work on your part or opt out for a power tool to make your work easier but make sure you use gloves and protective glasses with the power trimmer.

2. Raking the leaves

That might be the most time-consuming task in the fall. Starting in September, you will need to rake the leaves a few times so you don’t have piles of leaves lying around. You can compost your leaves if you have a compost pile or put them on garden beds. Removing the leaves is necessary to give your grass the oxygen and sunshine that it needs.

3. Cleaning up debris from beds

The reason you need to do this is to minimize mold and diseases that are harbored in plant debris. When it comes to cleaning up garden beds, there are several ways that you can do it. You can use a rake, weed-whacker, or shovel, for example. However, when dealing with decomposed leaves and other organic materials, you should be more careful and use protective gloves to avoid any contact. Another option is to add a layer of mulch or compost on top of debris in the garden bed. This will keep the debris from decomposing and provide food for plants in your garden bed over the winter months.

4. Final lawn cut

Cutting your grass before the winter starts. Cutting the grass before the winter is important because the long grass is susceptible to snow mold. Avoid cutting it too short before winter because it can cause the root system to weaken, so make sure to leave 2-3 inches of grass. Some experts recommend leaving some leaves on the lawn and mulching it with the lawnmower – cut-up leaves work as a natural fertilizer and don’t cause any problems for the lawn.

5. Aeration

Aeration helps to break down the compacted layers of the soil and create channels for air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots. It also helps to break down thatch that builds up over time. Aerating promotes healthy grass growth by improving drainage and aeration and making room for new root growth. It’s recommended once a year to maintain a healthy lawn.

6. Clean the gutters

Gutters are mostly found along the roof’s edge, where two sloped roofs meet to form a peak. Gutters collect water and debris, which can create an unpleasant smell if they are not cleaned regularly. Cleaning gutters requires a certain fitness level, as you have to climb ladders and work at heights to clean the eavestroughs properly. It’s best to leave this job to professionals.

7. Powerwash

Powerwash the deck, sidewalks, and porch to clean up the mold, mildew, and grime. Use the pressure washer to clean the deck boards from the house outward. Working with the grain will bring the best results.

8. Clean up your tools

Clean up your tool to remove any dirt and dry them up to avoid rusting before you put them away for winter. You can organize your shed while you are at it – clean up any dust and dirt and arrange the tools neatly so you can find them easily when spring comes.

Here is a list of the most common tasks for fall cleanup in your yard. The actual list of tasks for your particular yard will vary depending on the landscape. You might have more shrubs to trim or perennials that you need to cover for winter. Pressure washing at the end of the season is usually a good idea as well as lawn cutting is something you shouldn’t avoid before winter.