Fall is ideal time for yard work

Landscapers generally agree that proper lawn care in the fall has a greater impact than similar efforts in any other season for developing a great lawn throughout the year. To achieve maximum benefit for year-round results, fall lawn care requires a number of different efforts, including mowing, removal or mulching lawn debris, aerating, fertilizing and watering.

Fall is also an ideal season for planting trees, shrubs and other assorted plants, despite a false perception in the gardening world that it is the end of the growing season. The key is encouraging good root growth. Planting trees and shrubs in the fall enables the root systems to grow before the hot summer returns.

Smaller plants will be established before winter sets in, thus getting a head start over shrubs in the spring. Larger plants will also get a head start since a general rule of thumb is one year per 1 inch of trunk diameter.

The ideal time to begin planting trees and shrubs is six weeks before the first sign of hard frost. September-November is the ideal time for tree planting because it allows the roots to become established before the ground freezes and winter sets in.

Fall is also a great time to create a backyard living space from which to enjoy the fruits of your labor along with the pleasant fall temperatures, be it with a deck, fire pit, outdoor grill, etc.

Landscapers and nursery companies will be at the 2013 Home and Remodeling Expo at the Chattanooga and Trade Center Sept. 14 and 15 should you need some guidance. The variety of local companies featured will be able to answer questions about your yard and outdoor living space, in addition to other home projects you may be considering. There’s no time like the present.