October comes fast here. One week you are still running the irrigation and the next you are looking at a hard frost warning. If you wait until leaves are fully down to start thinking about fall cleanup, you have already missed some of the most important steps.
Here is what to take care of in September and early October to close out the season the right way.
Cut Back Perennials, But Not All of Them
Late summer perennials like coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and ornamental grasses can actually be left standing through winter. They add structure to the landscape and provide habitat. Hostas, daylilies, and anything that looks mushy after frost should come out. When in doubt, cut it back to about four inches and let the plant tell you what it does in spring.
Clean Out the Beds
Fallen leaves matted down in planting beds hold moisture against plant stems over winter, which invites disease and rot. A good bed cleanup in October removes that debris, gives you a chance to pull any remaining weeds, and leaves the beds looking sharp heading into the off-season.
Get Your Shrubs and Trees Checked Before Dormancy
Fall is a good time for a quick arborist look at anything that had a rough summer. Dead or damaged wood is easier to spot before leaves drop completely and easier to deal with before the ground freezes. Waiting until spring means dealing with it during your busiest season.
Winterize Your Irrigation
This one has a hard deadline. Once overnight temps are consistently dropping below freezing, any water left in the lines can crack heads and pipes. In Central Illinois that window usually opens in mid-October. Do not wait until you see a freeze warning to call because that is when every schedule is already full.
Do Not Skip the Final Mowing
Heading into winter with turf that is too long invites snow mold. A final cut at about two and a half to three inches gives the lawn a clean close to the season.
Fall cleanup is not glamorous but it sets up everything that comes next. A yard that is properly closed out in October wakes up a lot faster in April.
Green View handles fall cleanup across all five Central Illinois markets. If you want a crew to take care of it, now is the time to get on the schedule.
Schedule Your Fall CleanupGreen View proudly serves Peoria, Bloomington, Springfield, Champaign, Decatur and surrounding Central Illinois communities.