🍁 The Ultimate Fall Landscape Cleanup Checklist

As the leaves start to fall and temperatures drop, your yard needs some seasonal TLC.

Fall cleanup is more than just raking leaves—it’s about preparing your landscape for winter and setting it up for success next spring.

With the right plan, you can protect your plants, enrich your soil, and keep your property looking tidy all season long.

Here’s LawnMart’s Ultimate Fall Landscape Cleanup Checklist—your step-by-step guide to a healthy, beautiful yard before winter arrives.

🧹 1.

Clear Away Debris

Start by removing anything that could suffocate your grass or attract pests.

Rake up fallen leaves from lawns, patios, and driveways.

Remove branches, twigs, and dead annuals.

Clean out gutters and downspouts to prevent water buildup and ice damage.

💡 LawnMart Tip: Compost healthy leaves and plant matter instead of bagging them.

You’ll create nutrient-rich soil for spring.

🌱 2.

Cut Back and Prune Wisely

Trim back plants that are past their prime, but don’t overdo it.

Cut back perennials that have finished blooming, such as hostas, peonies, and daylilies.

Prune dead or diseased branches from trees and shrubs.

Avoid heavy pruning on spring bloomers like lilacs and azaleas—they set buds in fall.

💡 LawnMart Tip: Leave seed heads on ornamental grasses and coneflowers to provide food for birds during winter.

🍂 3.

Mulch Garden Beds

Mulch is your landscape’s best friend for fall and winter.

Spread 2–3 inches of organic mulch around trees, shrubs, and perennials.

Keep mulch a few inches away from trunks to prevent rot.

Use shredded leaves, bark, or compost for a natural look that protects roots.

Mulch helps insulate soil, retain moisture, and minimize frost damage.

🌾 4.

Prep the Lawn

A little fall lawn care goes a long way toward a lush, green spring.

Aerate compacted soil to improve root growth.

Overseed bare or thin areas for a thicker lawn.

Apply a slow-release fall fertilizer to strengthen roots before winter dormancy.

Continue mowing until grass stops growing—keep it about 2.5–3 inches tall.

💡 LawnMart Tip: Don’t let leaves pile up on your lawn—they block sunlight and can cause disease.

🌳 5.

Protect Trees and Shrubs

Young trees and tender shrubs need extra care during cold months.

Wrap tree trunks with burlap or guards to prevent cracking.

Add stakes to newly planted trees for wind support.

Water deeply before the ground freezes to hydrate roots.

🪴 6.

Tidy Up Flower Beds and Borders

A clean garden bed makes spring planting easier.

Pull out annuals that won’t survive frost.

Divide perennials that have become crowded.

Remove invasive weeds before they drop seeds.

💧 7.

Store Tools and Equipment

Don’t forget your tools and irrigation systems.

Drain and store hoses, sprinklers, and drip lines.

Clean and sharpen tools before storing them.

Empty planters to prevent cracking from frozen soil.

💡 LawnMart Tip: Use LawnMart’s winterization kits for quick, hassle-free equipment prep.

🐦 8.

Support Wildlife

Your fall cleanup doesn’t have to mean a barren yard.

Leave some leaf litter and plant stems for overwintering insects.

Add bird feeders and birdbaths to help wildlife thrive through winter.