Fall Landscaping Checklist for a Cleaner Spring

Fall is when landscapes either get set up for spring or quietly create next year’s weed and drainage problems. Clear leaves off turf before they mat, empty beds of spent annuals, and cut back perennials once they finish — without stripping every bit of winter interest if you like structure.

It is also prime time for planting trees and shrubs in many climates, overseeding cool-season lawns, and adjusting irrigation before hard freezes. Note drainage low spots while rain is frequent.

A focused fall service pass — cleanup, bed reset, and turf care — usually costs less stress than a chaotic spring catch-up when everything grows at once.