Expecting company for Thanksgiving? Once fall arrives, the holidays come quickly. If you’re running short on time, you want to focus on the tasks that make the biggest impact on getting your yard and home ready for guests.
Here are a few simple ideas to boost the presentation of your home along with your landscaping.
A Little Pressure Washing Goes a Long Way
Over the course of the year, dust, pollen, and algae stick and grow on surfaces all around your home, giving them a dingy, greyed look. The quickest way renew your walkways, siding and home’s exterior is with a pressure wash and window cleaning.
Pressure washing also sets you up for a clean slate to paint!
Paint Exterior Accent Pieces.
The centerpiece of the front of your home is the front door. A fresh coat of paint on the door along with other accent pieces (a bench, steps, shutters, rail) draws the eye and makes those pieces pop. So if you don’t have time to place a lot of décor, these can help make up the differences. If you’re feeling adventurous, fall paint colors include gold, brown, dark red, burnt orange, lavender and eggplant.
Use Natural Décor
Since a lot of families are spending most of their time home this year, you can keep yourself and kids active and creative by making fall decorations from natural elements they find outside. This year trendy décor include filled lanterns, wreaths, fall holiday trees, and homemade ornaments. Some good vegetation you may find around your yard to create these pieces include:
- Acorns
- Magnolia branches
- Snowflakes
- Pinecones
- Pine branches
- Driftwood
- Boxwood
- Holly
- Winterberry
- Crimson Velvet Ribbon
- Pumpkins, Gourds, Pears & Apples
- White Dishes
- Dried Leaves
- Lavender
Trim Up and Prune Branches and Bushes
Plants looking a little hairy? Good news. It’s safe to cut back most plants this time of year because the pests and disease are far less active. However, some perennials and flowering shrubs like hydrangea, azalea, and viburnum have already set their buds for the spring bloom. So be cognizant about the type of plant you cut back, or you’ll not get any blooms next year.
Not sure what plant you have? Use the PictureThis app to help identify it!
Removing approximately 1/3 of the length of the branches is a good rule of thumb for cutting back without stressing the plant. Trimming up these plants keeps the beds looking neat and helps the plant bloom fuller next year.
Mulch Flower Beds
If still above freezing, It’s not too late to put down a layer of mulch of your beds. Mulch goes mlles in helping to preserve the roots in the ground, retain moisture, fertilize and prevent weeds from taking over.
And it looks great. It gives your bed a well-kept look that makes your yard look sharp. And if you still have plants blooming at this time, the colors can pop within a nice dark backdrop.
Remove Leaves and Mow
When the leaves start falling, they can easily get out of control quickly. It may take two or three swings at leaf removal to finally get them all out of your yard. It’s good to keep up with them, because leaving a thick layer of leaves all winter will kill your grass. Although mowing becomes less necessary once cooler weather arrives, one final mow can provide an even look and chop up any bits of tree leaves that are stick in the grass.