Leaves get most of the attention in fall, but there’s more going on in your yard this time of year. Here are a few things Atlanta homeowners often overlook, plus one project that’s popular once the weather cools. For the full seasonal list, see our October yard checklist.
Winter Weeds Start Now
Weeds like annual bluegrass (poa annua), henbit, and chickweed sprout in fall as the soil cools, then take off in winter and spring when your warm-season grass is dormant and can’t compete. The best defense is a pre-emergent weed preventer, which is usually applied from late August through September, before those seeds germinate. If that window has passed, don’t worry. Small weeds are easy to pull or spot-treat, and the earlier you catch them, the easier they are.
One caution: the right approach depends on your grass. Pre-emergent blocks grass seed too, so it doesn’t belong on a lawn you’re overseeding with fescue, and weed killers can harm new sod or cool-season grass if used incorrectly. We check your grass type before treating anything. Your next pre-emergent window for crabgrass is late winter, roughly mid-February to mid-March.
Clear Acorns, Sticks, and Fallen Branches
Acorns, pine cones, sticks, and small branches pile up along with the leaves. Left on the lawn, they smother grass the same way leaves do, and they can damage a mower or turn into projectiles. We clear them as part of our leaf control so your lawn is clean before we mulch the leaves. If larger limbs are down or hanging over your house, our tree and limb trimming can take care of that before winter storms.
Bush and Hedge Trimming
As fall growth slows down, it’s a good time to tidy up overgrown bushes and hedges. A trim keeps shrubs off your house, siding, and roofline, gives leaves and debris fewer places to collect against the foundation and in your beds, and leaves your yard looking sharp going into winter.
Timing matters by plant, though. Heavy pruning right before a freeze can push tender new growth that frost damages. And spring-blooming shrubs like azaleas, camellias, and hydrangeas set their flower buds in summer or fall, so cutting them back hard now means fewer blooms next year. We stick to light shaping and clearing now, and save heavy pruning of those plants for right after they bloom.
Stone Fire Pits and Patios: Build Now, Enjoy All Winter
Cooler weather is the best time to build outdoor living space, and it’s popular right now for a reason. A stone or block fire pit with a paver or gravel patio around it lets you use your yard through the colder months and have it ready for holiday gatherings. We build fire pits along with the patios and walkways around them, and the part that makes them last is what you don’t see: a level base and good drainage, so water doesn’t pool or shift the stones. See more of our hardscaping and drainage work.
Placement matters. Keep any fire pit well away from your house, fences, and low tree limbs. And if you want a gas fire pit, a licensed professional needs to run the gas line.
Want an Honest Opinion on Your Yard?
Send us a few photos and tell us what you have in mind. We’ll tell you what’s worth doing now and what can wait.