Fall & Landscaping Tips for a Warm & Cozy Home

Eco-Friendly Ways to Beautify Your Gardening Space

According to the 2012 National Geographic/Globe Scan Consumer Green Index, the behavior of American consumers still ranks as the least sustainable of all countries surveyed since the study began in 2008.

If you live in a tropical paradise, you prepare for winter by buying a few pumpkin spice candles and hanging a wreath on the front door while basking in the sunshine. But for most homeowners, homes and gardens undergo changes during autumn and winter seasons. Invest time and effort now, and you'll be rewarded not only by a beautifully cozy holiday atmosphere, but also by a generously flourishing lawn and garden when springtime rolls around.

Projects to Make Your Lawn Smile

Because of your summer maintenance, your lawn is green, fresh and happy. Keep up the good work for the next growing season with the following easy projects.

Aerate: As soon as you notice water starting to pool in the lawn, punch holes in the soil. A garden fork works for small yards, but for larger spaces, rent a powered aerator from a company like Sunbelt Rentals. Aerators remove plugs of ground that permits water to penetrate down to the roots, creating a lush lawn for next year.
Fertilize: This fall, treat your grass to a cocktail of nutrients that’ll grow roots and green your lawn for earlier next year. ThisOldHouse.com recommends a high-phosphorous fertilizer mix to prep your yard for winter. Also, Renegade Gardener says during this the time of year, mulch your perennials and other garden areas. Mulching helps regulate the ground's temperature during times of the year facing rapid freeze-thaw variations.
External Faucets: Invest in freeze-proof external faucets to keep water-filled plumbing from freezing and bursting pipes during the coldest months of the year. If you have a drip-irrigation tubing system, use an air compressor hose to blow out the last drops of water. Installing freeze-proof external faucets could save you time and money next spring.

Landscaping & Cozy Outdoors

The inside of your home is already a welcoming autumn paradise — autumn hues color your living space, the scent of spiced apples and pumpkin linger in the air, and you’ve made over your mantel with harvest accents. As cooler weather moves in, upgrade your backyard as well with these landscaping tips.

Plant new shrubs and provide new root systems that dig into soil before the ground freezes for the winter. New shrubs will also give your lawn a fresh look for the holidays.
Lay out new walkways, such as a brick walkway, from the driveway to the front door. Other high-traffic walkways can add a practical and cozy touch during the wet and muddy seasons.
Warm your doorstep with seasonal decor and accents. For a gorgeous harvest welcome, hang a wreath on the front door and adorn the edges of your porch or front steps with pumpkins. Mix it up with colorful winter squash. Include the kids in your alfresco decorating and make DIY wreaths for a personalized, warm statement before your guests even walk through the front door. Better Homes & Gardens spotlights a collection of homemade wreaths that your family can mimic such as a pheasant feather, leaves and pinecones, and chrysanthemum floral fall wreaths.

What Fall and Landscaping tips do you have? If you have any comments, I’d really like to hear from you.

OZ Gardener
The Garden Of Oz

Creative Commons image by various brennemans

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