Fall Landscaping Just As Crucial As Spring

CUPERTINO, CA -- A homeowner would have to be living under a rock not to know that yard maintenance can be just as important in the fall as the spring.

Just ask Jim Clansky of, aptly put, Year-round Landscaping of Sunnyvale. Beyond his base, he travels to Mountain View, Palo Alto, Saratoga and Los Gatos to spread the word of good gardening and landscaping.

So when the weather allows it and the honey-dos wear out, autumn represents the perfect time to throw on that flannel, knit cap and heavy boots and feel productive out in the yard.

"One of the first things is to put out fertilizer on the lawn before winter to fortify it," Clansky told Patch.

No. 2 involves digging in the ground.

"As long as it's still warm, this is a great time for planting," he added.

Then, it's time to look up.

"With tree trimming, it's important to look for any potential hazards. You won't need to take out a lot. But it helps," he said.

The Silicon Valley is entering the season of precipitation. For that, Clansky recommends cutting back on the number of times a homeowner irrigates the lawn.

"Plants shut down and go into dormancy. You need to cut back 30- to 60 percent and make the days less frequent," he said. With watering, if there are breaks in the line, it's best to get those replaced.

Clansky made the point that given Californians reduction in grass yards artificial turfs have evolved into a more acceptable grade of material.

As far as the bushes, pruning is also a result of plants that become dormant in their quasi hibernating season. Clansky listed rose bushes as a must, along with stone fruit trees.

Water districts also suggest gardeners spring into action in fall

"Fall is generally a great time to plant because the winter rains will help them get established," water district spokesman Marty Grimes said. "One caveat lies in avoiding frost-sensitive plants and planting when the ground is very saturated or muddy."

In a typical California home, 75 percent of the water used goes to watering the yard. In the winter, the process comes naturally.

Once drought-resistant plants are placed in the yard, water officials have long reminded homeowners to install high-efficiency irrigation as well. Timers are ideal in that they can adjust water output automatically in response to weather conditions.

For more information on the Santa Clara Valley Water District's landscape rebate program (also known as turf replacement), visit https://scvwd.dropletportal.com/public/pdf/plant_list/full/.

--Image via Sue Wood, Patch