Thousands of students headed back to school or classes this week, marking the unofficial start to fall. Even though we are still experiencing ninety degree days and high humidity here in Wilmington, it is never too early to start planning the seasonal changes necessary to maintain the beauty of your landscape. Setting up your lawn, trees, and plants for success means they will be healthier and more enjoyable come spring.
In the fall, it is best to perform preventative maintenance such as applying a pre-emergent herbicide, adding new ground cover like mulch and straw and treating for large patch fungus in grass. Applying a pre-emergent herbicide prevents germination of the seeds of new weeds without affecting the established plants. In the Wilmington area, it is particularly important to prevent the growth of poa annua, a widespread and low-growing turf weed that thrives in our temperate climate.
With the onset of cooler temperatures, adding mulch or straw to garden areas can help protect sensitive plants. Ground covers act as insulators to protect plants’ roots from winter cold or frost and keep soil temperatures consistent when the weather fluctuates. It is also important to routinely rake or blow the leaves from your lawn, as a heavy layer of leaves, especially ones that become wet or frozen, can suffocate your plants or the lawn beneath them.
Cool nights and higher humidity are the perfect recipe for large patch fungus growth in grasses. Large patch fungus is one of the most common diseases of turfgrasses, and is characterized by the develop of large circular or irregularly shaped patches of browning grass. While the fungus does not usually kill the grass, it causes rot at the bases and results in unsightly thinned areas which are highly susceptible to weeds. To minimize damage, areas should be sprayed as soon as activity is noticed.
As leaves begin to fall, conditions for pruning trees and larger shrubs are ideal, because fewer leaves allows for better visualization of limb structures. Fall’s cooler temperatures are also perfect for planting new trees, as root systems have time to develop and become established before winter’s first frost.
Wrightsville Beach Landscaping offers year-round maintenance or seasonal contracts for your outdoor needs in every season. From new plantings and seeding to aeration or pruning, we will work with you to create a plan that will fit your exact needs. For questions or more information about our services, contact us at (910) 256-6345.
