Unofficial End of Summer Arrives

Now that Summer is winding down and the kids go back to school, homeowners should now focus on preparing for the cold months ahead!

Living in a country with such drastic climatic changes require having your home in top physical condition to handle mother nature. Spending some time performing a few maintenance chores in the fall may help you avoid costly damage to your home and may even prevent catastrophic events due to heavy winds, snow and ice of the months to come.

The next few issues of the Backyard Bulletin will cover these topics and more on how to get the most out of your home during the fall, yard preparation and how to prepare your home for the winter.

A Last Dose of Fertilizer Can Make All The Difference

When people think fall, generally the last thing that comes to mind is that it's time to fertlilize! If you could fertilize only once a year, Fall is clearly the best time. Vigorous growth in the fall helps build a strong root system.

Fall is also the best time to establish a new lawn from seed. Since most annual weeds (including crabgrass) don't sprout in the fall, turf has a chance to get established without competition from weeds. This results in strong spring growth which is the perfect way to battle weeds the following year.

Taking the time however to fertilize in the fall will strengthen your plant's and lawn's roots, giving them and the ground a strong base on which to flourish next spring. The purpose of fall fertilizing is to promote root growth - where there is strong roots, you have healthy plants!

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12 Garden
Clean Up Tips

1. Add leaves and grass clippings to your compost pile.

2. Dig and harvest all vegetables before frost. Place green tomatoes on shelves in a cool area so they can ripen slowly. Parsnips, turnips, and carrots may be left in the ground. Some gardeners say this improves their flavour.

3. Mulch strawberry beds, roses, tender perennials, and plants with peat moss or straw to help prevent winter damage.

4. Do an over seeding where lawns are sparse. Fall is nature’s seeding time so a little help now will help eliminate bare or thin spots later.

...more>>

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Prepare For A Lawn Winter Ahead
Fall Yard Care Projects

The summer holidays are behind us, and the days are getting cooler - now is the perfect time to "think spring" when it comes to caring for your yard. The few extra hours you invest in your yard over the next month or two will pay off next spring and summer in the form of less work and a better-looking lawn faster.

Here are some yard care projects you can tackle now:

What to do with all the leaves you've raked
Small piles of leaves can be ground up and run over them with a lawn mower. These small pieces of leaves can provide excellent nutrients to your lawn! Do this several times to create a fine mulch for your lawn. Large amounts of leaves will smother your lawn and hinder healthy growth. Remember to either brown bag them, or recycle them in your own compost pile!

It's the very best time to seed your lawn
If you are establishing a new lawn or just filling in bare patches, fall is the best time to take on this task to ensure success with your cool season grass...more>>

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Fall Yard Waste Collection Schedule

For more information regarding the Scheduling of Yard Waste in Kitchener Waterloo, please call the Waste Management Division of Waterloo at 519-883-5100, or visit them online at www.region.waterloo.on.ca/waste

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