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Fall Landscaping Sahara Burson


When it comes to landscaping, fall is not the season that comes to most of our minds as needing a lot of attention. In fact, if you’re like me and you are neck deep in the budgeting process and have the irrigation systems winterization date on your calendar circled and highlighted with seven exclamation points, then adding additional landscaping to your plate is likely the last thing you want to do. In reality, there is so much more that can be done in the fall than simply cleaning up leaves. Luckily, I have five low-effort landscaping tips I would like to share with you that will keep your communities looking better all year round as well as saving you some time in the busy spring months. And let’s be honest, as dedicated managers and board members, we could all use a little extra time.


The first thing to know about effective fall landscaping is that it’s really important to keep the debris off the lawns. Since most communities don’t want to pay for expensive soil testing, many lawns do not have a properly balanced PH level. This means that if leaves, grass clippings, pine cones, or other plant waste is left to “mulch,” it can cause a PH imbalance in the soil and the lawn cannot digest it efficiently and it will not breakdown properly. When the soil is already extra compacted


24 Community Associations Journal | July/August 2018


in the fall, rotting plant debris further blocks nutrients from getting into the soil. Essentially, if the landscaper is not soil testing and balancing the PH levels, then grass clippings, leaves and debris should be bagged or raked up after each mow or visit. Best of all, all you need to do is make sure that your landscaping contract stipulates these requirements and that your landscaper follows through with them.


By the same token, because of the heavier rains in the fall combined with compacted soil, the roots can drown and die without proper oxygen. This can be helped by aerating to provide more oxygen flow. Aerating can be done in the spring as well, but there is a time crunch on that as it needs to be done before it gets too hot because warm air will dry out the freshly aerated soil. It’s also beneficial to do it in the fall because it can help the drainage issues associated with moss growth.


Similarly related to fall aerating is fertilizing. Assuming you have recently aerated, your soil is going to be primed to take in extra nutrients and this creates a wonderful opportunity to set yourself up for a great spring and summer. In the winter time, roots store


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