These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

Summary: Yard chores are important all year long, and the fall is no exception. This blog clearly lays out the 10 essential yard chores for homeowners to complete this autumn, all of which help to prevent pests and keep a tidy yard. The featured tasks are mow the lawn, clean out the gutters, rake up leaves, trim dead branches, tidy up the garden, pull any weeds, inspect plants for pests, seal all cracks and holes, toss rotten produce, and store the tools properly. These tasks are recommended for homeowners to prevent pests from invading, and scheduling an appointment with Pointe Pest Control is described as the most reliable form of pest protection.

There are so many fall traditions to enjoy. From pumpkin-spiced desserts to the vivid leaves to the cooler temperatures, there’s a lot to love about autumn. Conversely, one of the worst fall traditions is when pests invade houses and businesses to hide from the incoming winter.

Pests stake out their overwintering shelters early, before the freezing temps and snow arrive. Yard work is a major chore — especially if you have a big yard — but it’s important to remove the dead brush and fallen leaves before pests make their temporary homes in there. Let’s discuss the 10 essential yard chores to do in preparation for the incoming fall weather.

Mow The Lawn

mow the lawn These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

You don’t have to mow the lawn every week in the fall since the blades slow their growth. But it’s still important to keep the grass trimmed since overgrown lawns give pests every essential resource. They can hide within the tall blades until the rain arrives, when their sights turn to the nearby house. If the grass is long, mow it before the next fall rainstorm. This task, along with aerating and fertilizing the lawn, helps it to retain nutrients and water more easily. A healthy lawn is often a pest-free lawn, so grab that mower and eliminate their hiding spots!

Clean Out The Gutters

fall yard gutters These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

This task is especially important for regions that get a lot of fall rainstorms. “Useless” gutters are often blocked by natural debris, like wet leaves and twigs. Rats and mice love living in clogged gutters since they have everything they need in one spot. Clear out your gutters as best as you can before the rainy weather begins. You can use a big shop vacuum, a blower, or your hands to remove the debris. We strongly recommend wearing strong work gloves to protect your hands when you’re cleaning the gutters. Gutter guards are a great way to prevent clogged gutters, so you’re more likely to enjoy pest-free gutters!

Rake Up Leaves

fall yard raking These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

This is probably the most popular fall cleanup task, simply because — well, it’s fall! Cleaning up the fallen leaves could take quite a while if you have a few leafy trees in your yard. One piece of motivation for raking the leaves a third time this week is how many pests like living in leaf piles. Ants, rodents, spiders, centipedes, and roaches hide in leaf litter to reproduce and build a nest. Besides that disturbing fact, leaving piles of damp leaves on the lawn prevent the grass from retaining nutrients and water. Rake up the fallen leaves as much as possible, especially when the trees are constantly shedding their leaves.

Trim Dead Branches

fall yard trim These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

Speaking of trees, this task might also be time-consuming if you have certain trees on your property. Remove any drooping or dead branches from the trees that you can reach. These branches are safety hazards and nesting places for limber pests. It’s also a good idea to remove branches that are touching your house. Spiders, ants, and rodents use these as highways to the house, where they can find an entry point inside. While you’re inspecting the branches, check the trees for any stinging insect nests. Bees and wasps often nest in taller places, so you’ll want a professional to remove these nests before you mess with the branches (trust us on this one).

Tidy Up The Garden

fall yard garden These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

Gardens are great, but they can have a world of problems if pests decide to live there! It’s a good idea to clean up the garden during your yard work process, especially if your garden is right next to the house. Trim the plants that scatter their seeds and leaves, and pull any weeds that sprouted in between the greenery. The more plant debris that sits in the garden, the more cleanup you’ll have later. Perennials, like hibiscus and black-eyed Susans, are usually the culprits behind scattered seeds. To prevent pests from hiding in your garden, remove any fallen leaves and trimmings when you’re finishing up.

Pull Any Weeds

fall yard weeds These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

Weeding the yard is essential for the greater part of the year, but we still want to emphasize it here. Weeds take nutrients from plants, provide food and shelter for tiny pests, and ruin the aesthetic of the landscaping. Thrips, cutworms, and aphids like hiding under leaves and weeds the most. It’s quite the surprise to find a hidden pest when you’re tidying up the yard! Make sure to get the roots when you’re pulling weeds around trees and plants. These hearty sprouts will return if any of their roots are left behind. We suggest wearing garden gloves when pulling weeds to protect your hands from sharp-edged weeds and defensive pests.

Inspect Plants For Pests

fall yard check plants These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

This one is less of a major task and more of a habit to have while you complete the other yard chores. Since pests are expert hiders, they easily hide around trees and plants without being spotted. As you trim plants and remove weeds, check the leaves for any hidden creepy-crawlies. Spider mites and aphids hide underneath the leaves, while caterpillars munch through the leaves they crawl upon. It’s also a good idea to check around the base of each plant for garden pests. Japanese beetles, cutworms, and slugs stay here to have protection in between feedings. If you use garden insecticides from the store, use caution and thoroughly read the instructions first.

Seal All Cracks And Holes

fall yard cracks These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

While you’re outside, you might as well inspect the house for any entry points! Pests use autumn to search for their overwinter or hibernation spot. Unfortunately, our houses and buildings fit their exact criteria. Insects and spiders will clearly fit through small cracks, but did you know that rats and mice can squeeze through tiny holes? Mice fit through holes the width of a dime, while rats fit through gaps the width of a quarter. Check your house’s exterior for any holes, cracks, or gaps, especially around doors and windows. Seal all cracks with waterproof caulk, and fill the gaps with copper mesh or steel wool before lining with caulk.

Toss Rotten Produce

fall yard fruit These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

If you have any fruit-producing plants, you know the struggle of seeing scattered produce the day after you cleaned it up. Plenty of trees lose their leaves and fruit this time of year, so the grounded fruit provides an easy food source for pests. Stink bugs, cucumber beetles, flies, and wasps already love fruit, but they have an easier time when the fruit is on the ground. Fruit flies are the biggest fans of overripe produce since they lay their hundreds of eggs in rotten, organic food. Pick up any fallen produce in the yard, and check the trees and bushes for any overripe pieces that will fall soon.

Store The Tools Properly

fall yard tools These 10 Yard Chores Are Essential For Fall

Once you’re done with yard work (for now), store all of your yard tools correctly. Spaces and corners in large tools provide great web-spinning places for spiders. Any tools that are just tossed into the garage or shed will make excellent hiding spots for roaches and rodents before long. The longer that cluttered items sit out, the easier it is for pests to hide inside and underneath them. However you choose to organize your tools is perfectly fine, as long as they’re uncluttered. Try to keep your storage as tidy as you can, from storing the tools to removing dead leaves and grass that stuck to the items. The last thing you need is to give pests free nest materials!

Fall Essentials: Pumpkin Spice, Pinecones, & Pest Control

These yard chores are great ways to prevent pests and keep a tidy yard, but we want to note that you don’t have to have a spotless yard before receiving pest control services. At Pointe Pest Control, our licensed technicians are prepared to solve your pest problems regardless of the state of your yard. If anything, raking the leaves and trimming back plants will give your technician access to the ground for treatment purposes. Our efficient treatments eliminate your most persistent pests without endangering your family or the ecosystem. Contact us today for more information on our dependable pest control services that protect your home all year long!

Citations

Andrychowicz, A. (n.d.). 5 tips to simplify fall garden cleanup. Get Busy Gardening. Available at https://getbusygardening.com/simplify-fall-garden-cleanup/ (Accessed on September 26, 2024).

Hanula, D. (2021, October 22). The essential guide to fall cleanups. Budget Dumpster. Available at https://www.budgetdumpster.com/blog/fall-yard-cleanup/ (Accessed on September 26, 2024).

How a fall lawn cleanup helps your yard. (2019, September 6). Streamline Lawn. Retrieved September 26, 2024, from https://streamlinelawn.com/blog/how-a-fall-lawn-cleanup-helps-your-yard/

Miller, L. (2022, April 5). How to get rid of the 10 worst garden insects. Family Handyman. Available at https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/10-worst-garden-insect-pests-and-how-to-get-rid-of-them/ (Accessed on September 26, 2024).

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