Fall Landscape Cleanup: What to Do and Why
With fall temperatures cooling down, now is a great time to tackle the landscape cleanup tasks you’ve been avoiding due to the summer heat. And as tempting as it is to clear every bed and bag up all the leaves to keep your garden nice and tidy, there are some benefits to leave your landscape “as is” through the upcoming colder months.
Pros of Fall Landscape Cleanup
Reduces disease and pests: You can prevent diseases and pests by removing diseased foliage. Look for foliage covered in mildew or rust spots.
Keep beds neat: By clearing beds in the fall, you can make way for early bulbs and even lighten up spring chores.
Control seed-heavy plants: Remove seed-heavy plants to prevent them from overtaking gravel or pathways on your property. Seed-heavy plants in San Diego County include natives like California poppy and invasive species such as yellow-star thistle and mustards.
Cons of Over-Cleaning in Fall
Habitat loss: Pollinators and critters such as toads and songbirds rely on leaf litter for shelter, food, and nesting material.
Removes winter beauty: If your garden is bare, ornamental grass brings movement and structure to your landscape.
Removes nutrients: Leaves act as a natural mulch which can suppress weeds and also fertilizes the soil as it breaks down. If you bag up all those leaves, all you’re doing is sending free fertilizer to the landfill!
Why You Should Leave the Leaves on Your Landscape
Fall leaves are one of your landscape’s best resources. After all, those leaves on the ground have valuable nutrients your lawn needs.
Here’s what you can do:
- Mulch them into your lawn with a leaf shredder or mower
- Rake the leaves into your garden beds for natural mulch
- Compost the leaves or add them to worm bins to feed microbes. Compost will also improve soil structure.
What You Should Leave
Shrubs with berries for wildlife food and winter color- Ornamental grasses
- Perennials such as alliums and coneflowers to feed birds
- Hollow stems such as elderberry, bee balm, and hydrangea for native bees
What to Remove
Pest-ridden or diseased plants; remove them, do not use them as compost- Slimy foliage (daylilies, hostas): They can become a haven for slugs
- Invasive self-seeders such as fennel, periwinkle, ice plant, and pampas grass
- Weedy annuals
- Thick layers of leaves that have not been shredded as they can smother grass
Experience Quality Service. The Difference...Is Growing
Let's hear if for fall! Cool weather is in the air and the conditions are ideal for planting to enhance your landscape. Westturf Landscape takes pride in ensuring HOAs, apartment communities, and commercial properties in Carlsbad, Vista, and throughout San Diego are kept neat and tidy while conserving water. If you're looking for a commercial landscape maintenance service you can depend on, look no further than Westturf.
Call us at 760-650-3120 or message us online for a free quote.
Let's work together
Do you have a landscaping project in mind? is it time for a new HOA landscaping company? Westturf Landscape Management is ready to help. We offer a wide range of services, from synthetic turf installation to weed and brush clearance and complete landscape transformations. When it comes to quality, efficient landscaping services, we have you covered.
We are looking forward to hearing from you.
Westturf Landscape Management
701 Mercantile Street
Vista, CA 92083
Phone: 760.650.3120