Embrace the Change: Getting Your Yard Ready for the Cozy Days of Fall

As the Colorado summer’s warm embrace gradually loosens its grip and the days start to grow shorter, there’s an undeniable feeling in the air—the arrival of autumn. While we might be saying goodbye to beach days and barbeques, fall ushers in its own kind of magic, especially for those lucky enough to have an outdoor haven of their own. So, as we bid adieu to summer, it’s time to get our yards ready for the enchanting season ahead.

Falling in Love with Foliage

The most obvious change that comes with fall is the transformation of leaves. What was once a sea of green now becomes a stunning display of red, orange, and gold. To fully embrace this season, consider planting trees and shrubs that are known for their fall colors. Maples, sweetgums, and dogwoods are just a few options that will turn your yard into a vibrant autumn wonderland.

Create Cozy Nooks

As the weather begins to cool down in Colorado, there’s no better time to create cozy outdoor nooks where you can snuggle up with a warm drink and a good book. Invest in comfortable outdoor seating, add soft throws and pillows, and you’ll have the perfect spot to enjoy the crisp air and changing leaves.

Extend the Grilling Season

Don’t let the chill in the air keep you from enjoying your outdoor kitchen. Fall is a fantastic time to fire up the grill and savor the flavors of the season. Think hearty soups, slow-cooked stews, and roasted vegetables. With the right outdoor kitchen setup, you can continue to whip up culinary delights while savoring the autumn ambiance.

Outdoor Lighting Magic

With the days growing shorter, outdoor lighting becomes an essential element for extending your outdoor enjoyment. Consider adding string lights, lanterns, or even torches to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Well-placed lighting not only enhances safety but also adds a touch of enchantment to your outdoor space.

Falling for Fire Pits

There’s something mesmerizing about gathering around a fire pit on a crisp autumn evening. Fire pits not only provide warmth but also become the heart of your outdoor gatherings. Whether you’re roasting marshmallows, sharing stories, or simply basking in the glow, a fire pit is a fall must-have.

Celebrate the Harvest Season

Fall is synonymous with the harvest season, and your yard can become a celebration of this abundance. Consider planting a vegetable garden that thrives in cooler weather, such as pumpkins, squash, and kale. You’ll not only enjoy homegrown produce but also create a stunning focal point in your yard.

Fall Planting and Landscaping

Fall is an excellent time for planting new trees, shrubs, and perennials. The cooler temperatures and increased rainfall help plants establish strong root systems before winter. Additionally, fall is an ideal time for landscaping projects, from adding retaining walls to redesigning flower beds.

Leaf-Scaping

While the colorful leaves of fall are undeniably beautiful, they can quickly cover your yard. Instead of seeing them as a nuisance, embrace them as a natural source of mulch. Use a mulching lawn mower to finely chop the leaves and spread them over your garden beds. Not only does this save you time raking, but it also enriches the soil.

Embrace the Seasonal Decor

From pumpkins and gourds to wreaths and scarecrows, fall offers a wealth of seasonal decor options. Sprinkle touches of autumn throughout your yard, creating a warm and inviting ambiance that welcomes the season.

Prepare for Cozy Nights

Lastly, don’t forget to prepare for those chilly nights. Stock up on firewood, invest in cozy blankets, and perhaps even consider adding an outdoor heater to your patio to ensure you stay warm and comfortable during the cooler fall evenings.

As summer gracefully gives way to autumn, your yard becomes a canvas for the colors, scents, and flavors of the season. By embracing these changes and making a few adjustments, you can create an outdoor space that allows you to savor every moment of fall’s fleeting beauty. So, pour yourself a cup of cider, wrap up in a blanket, and let the enchantment of fall fill your yard.

Fall Yard Maintenance

Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care

Although September still gives us plenty of beauty in the landscape, fall is just around the corner and the end of the gardening season in near. Here are a few landscape tips to help you head into autumn.

Fertilize lawn.
Overseed bare or thin spots in lawn.
Continue mowing operations.
Dead head annuals and perennials.
Divide overgrown perennials and ornamental grasses.
Inspect sprinkler system operation, adjust timing as needed.

The end of October is the finish line for the gardening season. This is the time to rake leaves, shut down the irrigation, and rake the planting beds. Here’s a few checklist items to help you through this process.

Follow temporary draining instructions for sprinkler system (page 9), as temperatures dictate.
Clean off tops of dried perennials.
Plant spring-blooming bulbs.
Adjust staking of new trees.
Dead head annuals and perennials.
Rake leaves (if not cleaned up, fallen leaves can be harmful to sod and often can harbor insects and diseases harmful to plants).
Reduce watering times on sprinkler zones.

November is the time to put your garden to rest for the winter by mulching beds and wrapping trees. Here’s a few checklist items for garden chores of the month to help you.

Mulch roses and tender perennials.
Rake leaves
Cut back perennials to 2-3” from the ground.
Wrap trees, especially aspens in deer areas.
Drain (blow out) sprinkler system.
Remove annuals.

Irrigation Shutdown

Each fall, before the first hard freeze, sprinkler systems are “blown out.” This happens in regions where frost in the ground reaches below the depth of the irrigation pipes. In Colorado Springs, blowouts are usually done in October and November.

It’s convenient to delay the irrigation shut down as long as possible so that you limit the amount of time that you have to water by hand. When the night temperatures start dropping below freezing, but the hard freezes haven’t quite yet set in, it is important to temporarily drain your system. This removes most of the water from the back flow preventer so that it doesn’t freeze, expand, and break. However, it doesn’t remove the water from the underground pipes, which is only done during the blowout with an air compressor.