Fall Cleanup: What Your Muskoka Property Needs Before Freeze-Up

Once the leaves are down and the nights drop below freezing, the window for fall work closes quickly. A few hours of attention now saves a lot of repair work in spring.

Our fall checklist

• —Leaves and needles — Heavy leaf cover smothers lawn through winter and holds moisture against stone and wood. Clear lawns and beds, and keep pine needles out of drainage channels.
• —Garden beds — Cut back perennials that are finished, mulch tender plants, and pull weeds before they set seed.
• —Stonework and steps — Look for gaps, loose stones and cracked joints. Water that gets in and freezes will widen every one of them.
• —Irrigation and outdoor taps — Drain and shut off lines before the first hard freeze.
• —Trees and shrubs — Remove dead or hanging limbs now. Heavy snow will bring them down for you otherwise.

Protect what is new

Anything planted this year has shallow roots. Water well before the ground freezes and add a layer of mulch to even out temperature swings. Young evergreens near roads or driveways benefit from burlap screens against salt and wind.

Plan the spring work now

Fall is a good time to walk the property and write down what you want changed. We start taking spring bookings early, and projects that are scoped over the winter are the first on the schedule.

If you would like us to walk your property and tell you what is worth doing before winter, get in touch.