Fall in North Florida may not come with dramatic color changes and chilly afternoons right away, but your landscape still notices the shift. As temperatures slowly begin to cool and summer’s heavy rain and heat ease up, early fall is a great time to check in on your yard and take care of a few projects before the cooler months arrive.
Here are a few places to start.
Take a walk around your landscape
Before grabbing the gardening gloves, simply take a look around. Summer can be tough on a landscape, so check for plants that are overgrown, struggling or showing signs of damage. Look for bare spots in beds, drainage issues, weeds and anything else you may have overlooked during the hottest months of the year.
A quick walkthrough can help you decide what actually needs attention before you start buying or planting.
Clean up your landscape beds
Remove weeds, fallen branches, spent flowers and other debris that may have accumulated over the summer. Light pruning can also help clean up plants that have become unruly, although major pruning should always depend on the type of plant and its growing habits.
This is also a good time to redefine bed edges for an easy refresh.
Check your mulch
Florida’s summer rain can wash mulch away or leave beds looking a little thin. Check the depth throughout your landscape and refresh areas that need it.
Mulch does more than make beds look finished. It can help retain moisture, moderate soil temperature and reduce weed growth. Just remember to avoid piling it directly against tree trunks or plant stems.
Pay attention to irrigation
Your landscape’s watering needs can change as temperatures and rainfall patterns shift. Take a few minutes to run your irrigation system and look for broken sprinkler heads, areas receiving too much water and spots that aren’t getting enough.
Rather than sticking with the same watering schedule year-round, adjust based on the weather and your plants’ needs.
Look for opportunities to plant
Fall can be an excellent time to add trees, shrubs and other landscape plants in North Florida. Milder conditions can reduce some of the stress associated with establishing new plants during the peak of summer.
Before planting, consider how much sunlight the area receives, drainage conditions and how large your new plant will eventually become.
Give your outdoor spaces a refresh
Not every fall project needs to be a major landscape overhaul. Fresh mulch, a new container near the front door, a cleaned-up garden bed or a few new plants can make a noticeable difference.
If you’re not sure where to begin, stop by Liberty Landscape Supply. Our team can help you choose plants and materials that make sense for your space and get your landscape ready for the season ahead.
To learn more, visit www.libertylandscapesupply.com
Media Contact:
Stephanie Frakes
Account Manager
Stephanie@wandermediacompany.com
