Most garden plants, trees and other features of home and commercial landscaping go dormant in the wintertime. Some people think that this means they can generally relax when it comes to maintenance during autumn. As it turns out, the opposite is actually true, because the plants are storing up nutrients during fall in order to survive the winter. A bit of preparation during autumn can help your landscape stay healthy all winter and be ready to bloom vibrantly in the springtime. Now is the time to begin some early tree maintenance and perhaps even learn some proper mulching techniques to keep your plants in the best condition all year round.
Aerating your Lawn:
One of the most basic things to do is to aerate your lawn. During the summer, lawns generally get used more often for impromptu rugby matches and picnics and the like. All of that general running around can compact the soil beneath it a bit, and make it harder for water to soak into the ground. To reduce the possibility of letting perfectly good winter rainwater pool up and drown the lawn, or just run right off into the gutter, you’ll want to aerate it. Aerating involves poking holes in the lawn to allow air, water, and fertiliser to reach deep down, directly at the roots of the grass. This can be done either with low-tech hand and foot tools or with motorised aerating machines. Either way, your lawn will literally breathe more easily, and be a bit less thirsty with the return of warmer weather later in the year.
Mulching your Trees:
Another good practice for autumn, which many people somewhat mistakenly tend to do in the springtime, is mulching. Mulches are materials placed over the soil to maintain moisture and improve soil conditions. Your garden plants are going to need those extra nutrients more during the cooler and darker winter months, so it’s best to take care of that chore during the fall. Mulching is one of the most beneficial practices a homeowner can use for better tree health. Make sure to rake up any fallen leaves as soon as possible, too, so that they don’t pile up and smother the lawn and other plants. They can be used to build a rich compost that will come in handy for spring plantings.
Trimming your Trees:
Even in the winter, snow is rare in Auckland, especially heavy and potentially tree-damaging snows. The area does, however, experience more and stronger winds during the winter. It’s a good idea to make sure that dead, cracked, or weakened limbs are removed from your trees ahead of time, rather than have them break and fall on something or someone in a storm. Those same pruned limbs can be used for that mulch you’ll be needing anyway. To avoid risking the health of your trees, this is something you should definitely rely on an Auckland-area arborist, or tree service professional, to help you with.
Contact A1 Sure Services this Autumn if you’re looking for some assistance with your garden, mulching, trees or landscaping! Our team of experts will be able to help.