Fall lawncare checklist

Autumn is no time to ignore your lawn and landscape.

“What you do now will determine the quality of your family yard next spring and summer,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), the international trade association representing power equipment, small engine, utility vehicle, golf car and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.

“People know to plant fl ower bulbs in the fall, but this time of year is perfect for mowing, mulching, aerating, trimming and patching your yard,” Kiser said. “You might use a lawn mower to trim the grass, mulch the leaves, or pull an aerator attachment around your yard. Leaf blowers can help corral those

troublesome leaves, and string trimmers can help you make your yard tidy.” It’s important to take care of your yard, Kiser said. “After all, your living landscape does a lot for you. It produces oxygen, reduces the urban heat island eff ect, fi lters and captures runoff , improves air quality, controls erosion, absorbs carbon dioxide, and supports biodiversity. You benefi t when your yard is in top shape.”

OPEI off ers the following checklist to make sure your yard is ready for relaxing and fun outdoor activities next year.  #1 Keep mowing. Grass that is too high may attract lawn-damaging fi eld mice. Shorter grass is more resistant to diseases and traps fewer falling leaves. Cutting the grass low allows more sun to reach the crown of the grass, so less leaf will turn brown in the winter. However,

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cutting off too much at one time can be damaging, so never trim more than a third of the grass blades’ height off in a single cutting. Put mower blades on the lowest settings for the last two cuts of the season.  #2 Aerate your lawn. Compressed soil hurts grass health. Aerating punches holes into the soil and lets oxygen, water and nutrients into a lawn. Use a walk-behind aerator or get an attachment to pull behind a riding mower.  #3 Mulch your leaves. Many mowers can mulch leaves with an attachment. Since mulching with a mower can mix grass clippings with leaf particles, these nitrogen-rich grass particles and carbon-rich leaf particles will compost more quickly. Together, they return nutrients to the soil.  #4 Trim and shore up trees and bushes. Use trimmers, chainsaws or pole pruners to cut back trees, shrubs and plants. Make sure branches are safely trimmed back

from overhead lines, and not in danger of falling on a home or structure in winter weather. You may need to tie or brace limbs of upright evergreens or plants to prevent them from breaking in high winds or snow. Call a professional arborist for big trees or hard-to-reach spots.  #5 Repair bald spots. The easiest way to do this is with an all-in-one lawn repair mixture (found at most garden shops and home centers). Use a garden rake or de-thatcher to scratch loose the soil on the bald spot.  #6 Ready your outdoor power equipment for winter storage. Drain fuel tanks before storing your lawn mower, leaf blower or string trimmer for the winter. Service and winterize your outdoor power equipment before storing in your garage or shed. Taking these simple steps now will ensure that in the springtime when you’re ready to get back outside, your equipment will be also.

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H i J e n n y !

Cooler evenings with fewer bugs offer a perfect chance to spend time in your Belgard outdoor room. From pavers to fireplaces, A.B. Seed offers a wide range of Belgard products to create your outdoor dreamscape.

Carolina Custom Landscaping 336-215-1966 Carolina Hardscape 336-455-2034 Chip Weavil, Inc. 336-345-2602 Clearwater Construction Group 336-516-5500 Davidson Landscape 336-362-3877 Dennis Mullane 336-375-5115 Dunlap Lawn Service 336-282-3636 J Kyle Morgan Enterprises 336-339-9541 Green Spirit Landscaping 336-454-1188 Hicks Landscaping 336-345-6363 Hopper Fine Gardening 336-669-5008 Keith Brannock Landscape 336-263-9944 Keystone Homes 336-856-0111 Lake View Farms 336-257-4885 Land Plus 336-462-7104 Lawnworks 336-932-4772 Lowery Custom Construction 336-427-4909 PDC Hardscapes 336-669-5621 Piedmont Carolina 336-993-4114 Pond Professors, Inc. 336-510-0884 Pro Turf 336-382-0372 R & C Paving 336-327-7624 Roots & Shoots 434-251-6369 S & S Brick Paving 336-992-3710 Sheltons Landscape & Bobcat 336-382-8532 Southern Hardscapes 336-202-9241 Southern Sodgrass 336-996-4763 Stuart Nursery 336-977-7024 Triad Leisure Scapes 336-362-2210 Triad Decorative Concrete 336-345-6886 Cooler evenings with fewer bugs offer a perfect chance to spend time in your Belgard outdoor room. From pavers to fireplaces, A.B. Seed offers a wide range of Belgard products to create your outdoor dreamscape. Let A.B. Seed & Their Teams of Licensed Contractors Assist You with Your Outdoor Dreamscape: 2914 Sandy Ridge Rd, Colfax, NC (336) 393-0214 | www.ABSeedCo.com Carolina Custom Landscaping 336-215-1966 Carolina Hardscape 336-455-2034 Chip Weavil, Inc. 336-345-2602 Clearwater Construction Group 336-516-5500 Davidson Landscape 336-362-3877 Dennis Mullane 336-375-5115 Dunlap Lawn Service 336-282-3636 J Kyle Morgan Enterprises 336-339-9541 Green Spirit Landscaping 336-454-1188 Hicks Landscaping 336-345-6363 Hopper Fine Gardening 336-669-5008 Keith Brannock Landscape 336-263-9944 Keystone Homes 336-856-0111 Lake View Farms 336-257-4885 Land Plus 336-462-7104 Lawnworks 336-932-4772 Lowery Custom Construction 336-427-4909 PDC Hardscapes 336-669-5621 Piedmont Carolina 336-993-4114 Pond Professors, Inc. 336-510-0884 Pro Turf 336-382-0372 R & C Paving 336-327-7624 Roots & Shoots 434-251-6369 S & S Brick Paving 336-992-3710 Sheltons Landscape & Bobcat 336-382-8532 Southern Hardscapes 336-202-9241 Southern Sodgrass 336-996-4763 Stuart Nursery 336-977-7024 Triad Leisure Scapes 336-362-2210 Triad Decorative Concrete 336-345-6886 Let A.B. Seed & Their Teams of Licensed Contractors Assist You with Your Outdoor Dreamscape: All Terrain Landscaping 336-601-9470 Carolina Custom Landscaping 336-215-1966 Carolina Hardscape 336-455-2034 Chip Weavil, Inc. 336-345-2602 Chris Woodson 336-486-0507 Clearwater Construction Group 336-516-5500 Cornerstone Construction 336-781-8485 David Honeycutt 336-688-3770 Davidson Landscape 336-362-3877 Dennis Mullane 336-375-5115 Devon Hauser 336-416-1851 Dickie Price 336-870-5143 Dunlap Lawn Service 336-282-3636 Elite Landscaping 336-399-6082 Eric Price 336-399-6082 Green Spirit Landscaping 336-454-1188 Hicks Landscaping 336-345-6363 Hopper Fine Gardening 336-669-5008 Jeff Workman 336-906-7163 J Kyle Morgan Enterprises 336-339-9541 Juan Urena 908-553-0405 Keith Brannock Landscape 336-263-9944 Keystone Homes 336-856-0111 Lake View Farms 336-257-4885 Land Plus 336-462-7104 Lawnworks 336-932-4772 Lowery Custom Construction 336-427-4909 Nathan Tyndall 336-345-3152 PDC Hardscapes 336-669-5621 Piedmont Carolina 336-993-4114 Pond Professors, Inc. 336-510-0884 Pro Turf 336-382-0372 R & C Paving 336-327-7624 Roots & Shoots 434-251-6369 S & S Brick Paving 336-992-3710 Sheltons Landscape & Bobcat 336-382-8532 Southern Hardscapes 336-202-9241 Southern Sodgrass 336-996-4763 Stuart Nursery 336-977-7024 Triad Leisure Scapes 336-362-2210 Triad Decorative Concrete 336-345-6886 Turf Fashions 336-683-4216

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