It finally feels like fall! As we move more towards that wonderful season of cool nights and sunny days, it’s time to start thinking about fall and beyond. In Nashville, it feels like we spend all summer beating back the growth or trying to get it to grow once the heat sets in. Fall is a time for reflection, planning and a shift in focus. Our goal is to keep your yard looking healthy and gorgeous all fall while planning and preparing for a winter rest and spring growth.

How Can I Get a Beautiful Yard This Fall?

Keeping your yard vibrant and lovely all fall isn’t hard when you have the right partner. There are two key components to a beautiful fall yard: a healthy lawn and just the right plants.

Tips for a Healthy Lawn from Fall to Spring

So much of what we do for our lawn in the fall is about getting ready for spring, but we can also take steps to keep it looking healthy well into fall.

  • Watering is essential, especially given our late summer/early fall dry spell.
  • Cut your grass shorter than you do during the summer. This keeps fungus from growing as winter sets in. We recommend gradually cutting grass shorter through early to mid-October.
  • Mulch your leaves: this helps the dead leaves decompose and provide nutrients to the soil.
  • Aerate and dethatch: fall is the perfect time to loosen up the soil and get your grass ready for spring growth.
  • Fertilize: with growth slowing gown, fall is the best time to fertilize to help grass seeds germinate and get ready for spring.
  • Overseed your lawn: with warm days and cool nights, fall is the time to plant new grass for spring. Let’s get it done now before the first frost.

What Should I Plant This Fall?

To keep your yard looking festive for fall, accent your lawn with some new cool weather plantings for fall color (and flavor). Some of our favorites are:

  • Mums: this fall classic never fails with its rainbow palette as summer colors fade.
  • Pansies and Violas: delicate yet hardy, these little gems can last all winter in our climate.
  • Hardy flowering shrubs like witch hazel are low maintenance beauties.
  • Ornamental cabbages and kale are low maintenance and eye-catching, especially around walkways and entranceways.
  • Fall vegetable gardens are also becoming more and more popular in our growing community. Healthy crucifers like broccoli and brussels sprouts as well as greens are pleasing to the eye and terrific on the plate.

Preparing Your Yard: Fall Is Time To…

  • Clean up: Get rid of dead annuals you planted last spring and get any final weeding done as plants are dying off. It will make things so much easier when spring rolls around.
  • Test your soil: fall is a great time to check your soil pH and see if you’re low on any nutrients.
  • Plant bulbs for spring, then sit back and wait for them to pop up after a chilly winter.
  • Prune: fall is an ideal time to cut back trees and shrubs.
  • Install lighting: while we often think of outdoor lighting in summer, with shorter days, fall is a perfect time to think about lighting walkways and entrances.

Fall Lawn Care: Why Hiring a Pro Makes Sense

Summer lawn care is hard work, but DIY is completely doable if you have a good mower and some time on your hands. Fall lawn care is more complex and can really benefit from a trained eye and lots of experience. Working with a professional landscaping company takes the guesswork out of all of the important prep activities like aeration, fertilization and seeding. All of this stuff takes a little more skill and know-how than basic mowing. At Acer Landscape Services, we have the expertise and the equipment to make all of this happen the right way at the right time. Our professional team can help you find just the right plants to add color and life to your yard as colder weather sets in. We know what works and what doesn’t in our mild but unpredictable climate. Working with the pros also gives you much more time to sit back and enjoy your yard in the glorious golden days of fall.