Now that summer is unofficially over, staycations are at an end and schools are back open to some extent, it is a great time to evaluate your lawn and landscape to see how it fared over the summer months. Extreme temperatures, lack of rain and high humidity are all culprits that put a beating on lawn and landscape plantings. The most visibly affected at most properties throughout the Delaware Valley is the turf. Let’s talk about what can be done to bring back that lush, green, golf course of a lawn you had back in April and how to also take advantage of the seasonal holidays to add some much-needed interest and color back to your landscape.

LAWN. Fungus was the quick spreading killer of grass over the past few months fueled by heat, humidity and the over-watering suburban homeowner. Fungus first appeared as some yellowing areas which rapidly took over the lawn if not treated properly. The first inclination was to crank the irrigation up and even have it come on multiple times throughout the day. This was only adding to the problem and making it much more difficult to correct with fungicides. Once this fungus is kept at bay it’s on to the next step—fall lawn renovation.

Don’t despair, in a few steps your lawn can be brought back to its former beauty. The lawn will first need to be thatched to remove all built-up dead turf blades and debris. This can either be done manual- ly with a metal tined rake for those ready for a workout or by machine to be quick and efficient. The soil will then need to be aerated to remedy compaction and allow air, beneficial nutrients and water to reach the root zone easily. Any excessive bare spots are to have a peat moss/soil mixture spread throughout to provide the seed a stable germination medium. Lastly, grass seed is to be applied, along with a starter fertilizer for that  extra boost. Make sure new seed receives adequate water throughout its growing cycle to becoming a mature, hardened-off blade.

FLOWERS. Now that your lawn is the envy of the PGA Tour, some much-needed seasonal color should follow suit. Mums are the staple fall flower that when planted in masses can create a stunning effect, but  just don’t stop there. Kale, cabbage, asters and sedum will all add that vibrancy back into your landscape once the petunias and impatiens have all lost their appeal. Some of these are even perennials, which means they will re-emerge each year for your enjoyment. I can’t stress enough that planting in masses will help you achieve that wow factor. Quantities of three are good, five are even better and seven-plus are a knockout!

DÉCOR. Halloween and Thanksgiving are close enough in proximity that outdoor décor can be displayed to cover both. If ghouls and goblins aren’t your thing you can still be festive in the season and arrange pumpkins, multi-colored gourds, straw bales and corn stalks. These all evoke the feeling of the fall harvest and are a nice addition to entry ways and landscaped areas. As with flower plantings, more is better! If you typically only purchased two pumpkins in the past then this year get nine of various sizes and arrange in multiple groupings throughout. Corn stalks are a great accent to any vertical elements of your home and landscape such as light poles, doors and tree trunks. The best aspect about all of these items is that they are relatively inexpensive so you can go all out without breaking the bank.

Fall is associated with the end of the growing season, but no need to just sit back and watch things die off. Elite Landscaping has been providing these services for over 30 years. Please contact us to schedule a free consultation and finish up strong in a blaze of oranges, yellows, purples and burgundies. “Autumn … the year’s last, loveliest smile.”—William Cullen Bryants

Michael Pasquarello is a degreed landscape architect with Elite Landscaping. Email him at MPasquarello@EliteLandscaping.com or call (856) 753-1944. Visit EliteLandscaping.com for more information.

Elite Landscaping
8 Pineview Ave.  |  Berlin
(856) 753-1944  |  EliteLandscaping.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 21, Issue 3 (October 2020). 
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