As one of the hotter, dryer summers in some time draws to a close, landscaping experts have some advice for people wondering what yard maintenance jobs should be top of mind.
Lowell Harder of Harder and Sons Exterior Maintenance Services in Bragg Creek has some free advice for priority tasks designed in part to address the dry conditions the area has suffered through for most of the growing season.
With a nod towards whatever watering restrictions may be still in place in a particular neighbourhood, Harder said shrubs and trees need a good long drink right now.
“Especially your evergreen shrubs, so any junipers and things like that really need to have a good watering,” he said.
That goes for all the deciduous trees as well – a good, deep watering right now is recommended. And it’s good time to fertilize as well, to help plants recuperate from an abnormally stressful season.
“Any tree and shrub fertilizer would be really important to add this year,” he said.
Harder went so far as to mention one of his (partial) competitors as a good place to go to get some quality fertilizers for trees and shrubs, though he stopped short of mentioning preferred brands.
“I know Anything Grows sells some excellent granular tree fertilizers for trees and shrubs, so I would just say go to them for recommendations,” he said.
It’s also time for a last fertilizing of the lawn.
“Get in a final fertilizer application – use a granular fertilizer.”
Next comes mulching.
“Get a mulch in if you haven't done so already, some fresh mulch around your shrubs,” he said.
He’s a fan of fall planting as well.
“Different people have different philosophies on this, but the fall is an excellent time to plant shrubs and perennials. It's an excellent time because the plants are already starting to go dormant, so it is less shocking to the plant system to go in the ground in the fall.”
He said cleaning the eavestroughs is important now as well.
“Get them cleaned so that the moisture isn't trapped in there and they don't suffer more expansion issues because dirt and junk can cause expansion and contraction and create more leakage.”
A very popular perennial grass in the Cochrane area is Karl Foerster Grass – the tall clumps of grass with the long seed heads are evident all over town. Those with no experience often wonder whether to cut the plant back in the fall or in the spring.
Harder said it doesn’t matter to the plant – either way is good.
“My advice is if you want the colour the Karl Foerster Grass it’s nice to leave throughout the winter. If it's not gonna be buried in snow, it's really nice to have it,” he said.
“It's a nice visual. If you're going to be piling snow on it, then get it cut, then I cut it back as soon as the snow is melted in the spring,” he said.
