Revive Your Wisconsin Landscape for Fall

Now is the time to renew your summer weary landscape. All you need is a fresh layer of mulch and some replacement plantings to add new life to your gardens.

Here in Wisconsin, the summer’s extreme heat took a toll on gardeners and our landscapes. The above average highs sent many indoors to escape the heat and enjoy the comfort of air conditioning. As a result, many landscapes suffered from neglect, while the weeds had no problem taking over.

Don’t give up. You can start turning your landscape around this fall. Freshen and expand existing mulch beds or create new beds, incorporating individual trees and shrubs.

You’ll not only improve your landscape’s beauty, but increase the health and vigor of your plants and reduce the time you spend maintaining your landscape.

Use a two- to three-inch layer of fragrant hemlock, double-shredded hardwood or other organic mulch to help conserve moisture, suppress weeds and protect the soil from erosion. Don’t pile the mulch around tree trunks, against shrub stems or bury the crown of perennials. This can lead to rot and plant decline.

Mulching also improves plant growth by keeping the roots cool and moist in summer and better insulated over winter. Expanding mulch beds can also speed growth of newly planted trees and shrubs. Keeping grass away from new plantings reduces competition for water and nutrients.

Plus, your life will be easier. Creating mulch beds around individual plants eliminates the need to hand trim. It also keeps weed whips and mowers away from the plant. A little nick, big gouge or repetitive damage from this equipment creates entryways for insects and diseases, shortening the life and compromising the beauty of these plants. Visit Kanavas Landscape Management's website for my tips on creating mulch beds.

Further boost your landscape’s beauty by replacing or hiring a landscape contractor to replace any stressed, overgrown or dead plants with those best suited to your landscape. Fall is a great time to plant as the air is cooler and the soil is warm; perfect for establishing new plants.

Incorporate low maintenance plants that provide several seasons of interest with attractive flowers, fruit for you and the birds to enjoy, fall color and interesting form or bark. Your landscape professional can help with selection and placement, so you get the best value for your dollar.

Make sure your new plantings get off to a healthy start by watering thoroughly whenever the top few inches of soil are crumbly, but slightly moist. Make the job easier and conserve water with the help of soaker hoses or water gator bags. These slowly apply the water directly to the soil, so less is lost to runoff and evaporation.

Enjoy the fall color and cooler temperatures as you add new life to your landscape this season.

For more fall tips, visit www.melindamyers.com