What is Fall Clean-up?
Fall clean-up is one of the most important times of year for Minnesota property owners. By taking time to prep your yard now, you help improve your lawn’s health over the winter and set yourself up for a simpler spring.
You can start fall clean-up as early as September and should be wrapping things up around November, or just before the first snowfall. In Minnesota, snow patterns can be hard to predict, so the more proactive you are, the better.
Importance of Fall Cleanup
Many Minnesotans forgo fall clean-up. One reason for this is the belief that snow will clear away the fall debris eventually, but this could not be further from the truth. When debris lies out all winter, disease grows, which will smother your turf and start you off on the wrong foot for spring.
In addition to keeping your lawn healthy, fall clean-up transforms your turf into a winter wonderland. There is a big difference between a lawn cluttered with debris and one blanketed with a clean layer of snow.
DIY Fall Cleanup Tips
Want some quick and easy ways to make your yard feel cleaner this fall? Give these a try:
- Clear out flower beds. Critters love to burrow under flower beds, but this can destroy your plants. Keep an eye on foliage as well, which can acquire disease during the winter.
- Don’t forget the gutters. It’s easy to forget about your gutters until they are completely backed up. Check for proper drainage and use a small garden shovel to clear out debris. Finally, rinse each gutter with a hose.
- Cut your grass shorter. When grass is too long in the winter, you are asking for mold and fungus to grow. However, cutting it too short can stunt the growth and damage the roots. Find a happy medium – about 2-2.5 inches tall – to maintain a healthy lawn all winter long.
Don’t forget to compost. Composting is a great way to reduce litter and help the environment. Combine leaves with other household debris and yard waste to make compost for the soil in your planting beds.
What to Expect From Professional Fall Clean-up
Our fall clean-up service consists of two visits that occur around the third week of October and the first week of November. These dates are subject to change depending on the leaves and the weather.
During fall clean-up, you receive the standard turf maintenance services, including mowing, trimming, weeding, fertilizing, mulching, bagging leaves, core aeration and debris pickup.
On our final visit, we will power blow leaves out of rock beds, landscaping, patios and walkways, whether or not mowing is needed. Debris will either be placed in natural areas or hauled away by our team and composted.
Leave the Fall Clean-up to Us
Before you know it, winter will be here. Make the most of our short Minnesota fall by leaving the yard work to the pros at Scott’s Lawn Care. We provide expert year-round property maintenance services to the West Metro and greater Twin Cities area.