We’ve crafted a seasonal maintenance guide, which is available as a free resource on our resources page. Below, I’ve compiled a few key directions for fall maintenance for your landscape.
Perennials & Grasses
DON’T cut back perennials and grasses! The dried flower stalks add winter interest to the landscape. Many beneficial insects lay their eggs on them and this new generation of butterflies, mason bees, and other friendly bugs won’t hatch until spring (so please don’t throw them in the trash)!
Grasses and perennials in fall at the Healy House in Ogden, Utah.
Shrubs
It’s okay to prune shrubs in fall or in the early spring. Not all shrubs require pruning, so check with us first if you have questions. Some shrubs do require pruning, because they’ll get dead branches and start looking leggy if left alone. These include the following:
- Roses
- Ninebark
- Lavender
- Elderberry
Roses at the Gibson Residence in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Leaves
Rake leaves and put them in your compost pile or use them as a temporary mulch in garden beds over the winter. Again, many beneficial insects lay their eggs on them.
Winterize your irrigation system by turning off the master valve, opening all the lateral valves and using an air compressor to blow out the lines. Do not exceed 60 psi on the air compressor.
Oasis Community Garden (Ogden, Utah) in the fall.
Bulbs
Plant bulbs such as tulips, crocus, daffodils, or garlic in the fall.
Tip
Fall is a great time to stock up on new plant material while it’s on clearance at the nursery!
Looking for a more comprehensive update to your landscape? Contact us!
Shalae (right) and Lindsay (collaborating specialist on historic landscapes) volunteering on a project site!
