A Complete Guide to Fall Landscaping & Outdoor Entertaining
The weather is cooling down, the leaves are falling, and the days are becoming shorter. That’s right, San Diego, fall has arrived and it’s here to stay. Just like the seasons change, your exterior is changing along with it. That’s why we’ve prepared an in-depth guide to help you maximize your outdoor living space for fall. We have tips on everything from fun fall entertaining ideas, to some super important maintenance needs that can’t be overlooked. Trust us, you don’t want to miss out on this one.
Keep Up With the Exterior Maintenance
This is a big one! Since the weather isn’t as mild as it is during the summer months, your exterior will need some extra TLC. Taking proper care of your yard serves more purposes than simple aesthetics. In fact, ignoring maintenance can cause serious problems. Here is our ultimate to-do list to make sure you’re staying up to date on exterior maintenance.
Rake Leaves
Just like you, we love stepping on crunchy leaves and jumping in leaf piles. However, fallen leaves can make your yard look somewhat sloppy in appearance. All it takes is about thirty minutes to rake everything up, leaving behind a much more appealing view. You can even have the kids help you!
But, as important as curb appeal is, there is a much more practical reason to properly dispose of all those leaves. As the months grow colder, the winds start to pick up. (If you have a pool, you probably know where this is going). Before you know it, the leaves are construed all across your yard, or most likely, stuck in your pool. This is especially worrisome because too much debris in any water feature can cause the filters to clog. However, if you turn raking leaves into a regular chore, you’ll save yourself a lot of cleanup in the long run.
Pay Attention to Dead Grass
Keep a watchful eye on your grass during the next few months. Just as the summer can dry it out, the cooler temperatures can lead to a similar fate. When watering your lawn, make sure to give any brown spots a little extra love. It’s also a good idea to sprinkle on some natural fertilizer after watering. Managing brown spots as they arise will keep them from becoming too big.
It goes without saying that everyone wants a pristine, green lawn. Of course, having perfectly healthy grass will make for a more visually appealing exterior, but keeping up with your lawn can make your home safer, too. Since we live in California, we are constantly cognizant of any fire danger and it’s important to be aware that dead grass is extremely flammable. All it takes is one ember from a barbeque before you have a serious issue on your hands. If you can’t seem to keep up with your dead grass, then it may be time to consider alternative landscaping options.
Aerate Your Lawn
Since we’re on the subject of lawn care, it’s worth mentioning that fall is the prime time to aerate your lawn. Since most of that summer heat has dissipated, aeration allows the moisture in the autumn air to penetrate into the soil of your yard. Not only is this an easy way to save water (nature’s doing some of the work for you!), but aeration also helps immensely with soil compaction. If you didn’t know, “soil compaction” is a fancy phrase that simply means the dirt in your yard is tightly packed. Compacted soil makes it much more difficult for water and nutrients to pass through into the roots of the plants growing in it. Tightly packed soil is actually one of the most common causes for dead grass. Luckily, aeration is a simple fix for this problem. If you haven’t already, make it a priority to get your lawn aerated this month.
Trim Trees and Dead Branches
In addition to falling leaves, the autumn winds often shake down dead tree branches. While these twigs are often small and lightweight, they can also be apart of a much bigger problem. We always recommend having an inspector come out to examine your trees for any branches that pose a threat of being compromised. The last thing you want to see happen is having a heavy branch come down on your car, your roof, or maybe even you! All jokes aside, we don’t recommend trying this at home. Leave the branch cutting to a trained professional with the right equipment. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that youe exterior is safe. Not to mention, the boost in curb appeal you get from tidying up your landscape is a great bonus.
Clean Out Your Gutters
If you’ve been putting it off, this is your sign to get it done! Make sure to get your gutters cleaned as soon as possible so they’re ready for the change of season. Clogged gutters are just as problematic as they are unsightly. When they get full of debris, they can’t effectively do their job, which can lead to everything from a flooded lawn area to roof leaks. Not to mention, if they become too heavy, your gutters can actually detach from the side of your home! (Have we freaked you out yet?) Since there is so much more debris and rainfall during the cooler months, gutters need to be in top working order. Luckily, they can be cleaned by a professional in a few hours.
Maximizing Your San Diego Landscape This Fall
As the seasons change, it’s so important to optimize your exterior to get the most use out of it this season. Trust us, it’s a lot easier than it seems! All it takes is a few adjustments to get your landscape prepped for fall. Before you know it, you’ll be cozying up outside, surrounded by a beautiful autumn exterior. Here are some of our go-to upgrades that you can do yourself!
Install Outdoor Lighting
If you haven’t realized it yet, the days are already growing shorter. Before you know it, Daylight Savings Time will be here, making sunlight even more fleeting. Don’t let this keep you from enjoying your exterior! By installing outdoor lights, your yard can be enjoyed no matter what time of day it is. Our personal favorite lights to install during the colder months are solar powered garden lights. Simply choose a spot where you’d like to install them, insert the stake into the ground, and let the sun do the rest. These lights get bonus points for being eco-friendly, as well!
Plant Fall Plants
It’s possible that some of your plants are on their last legs. Or, perhaps, your garden has already had a few casualties. While we’re lucky to live in such a temperate climate, not all plants are equipped to handle the change of season. Because of this, we always try to incorporate fall plants into our autumn landscapes. When looking for new additions, try to pick plants that are native to this climate and can sustain a wide range of weather conditions. A few of our favorite fall plants this season are hardy vegetables like kale and spinach, flowers like California poppies and mums, and adaptable succulents like agave.
Start Composting
It goes without saying that your green garbage bins are especially full during autumn. With so many falling leaves, twigs, and old plants, it’s quite a task to keep up with it all. Because of all the organic waste, fall is a prime time to start composting. Trust us when we say, you’ll have no shortage of waste to add to your compost bin. Not only will you eventually have an all natural fertilizer to use (*hint hint* see section on dead grass above), but you’ll be helping the environment by creating less waste.
It’s easier to get started than you think! First, just find any kind of vessel to contain the compost, such as a metal trash can. Then, add a variety of organic material to it. Think autumn leaves, food scraps, any dying plants, etcetera. Once you’re done, leave it in a sunny spot and agitate it regularly. Congratulations, you’ve just mastered the art of composting! For more information on starting your own organic vegetable garden, visit our previous blog post!
Entertaining During the Colder Months
Just because summer has ended doesn’t mean outdoor entertaining has to stop. With some strategic planning, your guests won’t think twice about the change of seasons. Here’s are some suggestions for entertaining during colder months that will make your party planning stress-free.
Create a Covered Patio Effect
Depending on the shape of your back porch, you should consider adding some form of coverage to protect your guests from any brisk winds. Ideally, these shades should be professionally installed in order to stand the test of time. However, if you’re in a pinch, you could DIY this in a few hours with some heavy duty drapes.
Additionally, if you regularly entertain but don’t have a covered patio in your backyard, it may be a good time to upgrade. In the summer, having a covered porch protects from heat and in the cooler months can protect from heavy winds. If you’re always in your backyard, we promise this is an investment that will pay off big time!
Invest in a Heat Source
Another easy upgrade for autumn entertaining is to provide some sort of heat source to your exterior. You have a lot of options when it comes to upgrading, ranging in costs and longevity. Some cost effective and quick fixes include outdoor space heaters and heat lamps. But, if we’re being honest, fire pits are one of our favorite features to include in backyards due to their function and their style. Plus, there’s nothing more cozy than catching up with friends, around a fire pit on a cool, autumn night.
Provide Plenty of Blankets
If you know your gathering will go into the evening, make sure to provide your guests with plenty of blankets to stay warm. It’s a little detail that will leave your guests feeling welcomed and thought about. Simply grab a few spare blankets, roll them up, and leave them in an easily accessible area.
Consider Serving Hot Drinks
While wine does a good job at keeping us warm, sometimes it doesn’t cut it. If you’ll be entertaining outdoors, consider providing some sort of warm beverage for your guests.
If you’re looking for an idea, we have a super fun one! There’s nothing quite as nostalgic as drinking hot cocoa on a chilly night. Go all out and make it an interactive experience with a build your own hot chocolate bar. Now that’s a party we want to be at 🙂
We hope you find these tips helpful! Here at Deep Rooted Designs, we believe that autumn is a season to be enjoyed, not one that forces us indoors. If you have any more tips, feel free to share them with us! Or, if you have any questions about some of the upgrades we discussed, please reach out. We’re always here to talk! Now, get outside and enjoy this beautiful season!