Natural Yard Care spans the seasons.  This is the time to assess how well your landscape did during the spring and summer, and what changes you’d like to make. 

Natural Yard Care ideas for fall:

• While the ground is moist and easier to work with, pull up emerging weeds so their roots have no time to develop.  Prepare new planting beds by adding compost to the soil.  Make your own compost for next spring out of the garden clippings and debris from this season. 
• This is also a good time to mulch garden beds, trees and shrubs with leaves, compost or bark to reduce winter weeds and feed the soil. 
• Walk your lawn and decide where there are thin spots you want to improve.  If so, this is a good time to aerate, over-seed and top-dress with compost.  Fertilize lawns with natural or slow release fertilizer in September to develop healthy roots and crowd out weeds.  Another thought is to replace poorly performing lawn with plants or shrubs better suited for the area. 
• When the rains start, shut off and drain your watering systems.  Roll up and put away soaker hoses, or re-cover with mulch if you leave them out.
• Most of all – fall is the best time for planting!  Often, nurseries have sales and specials that you can take advantage of.  The soils are easier to dig, and aside from start up watering, the fall rains will help water the new plants for free.  This goes for planting a lawn as well.  Be sure to get a new lawn planted before October 15th – well before the first freeze.

Get more great garden advice in the comfort of home by using the RCTV – On Demand roster of Spring Garden Fair Classes.  Or, get outside and visit the Redmond Water Conservation Demonstration Garden along the Sammamish Trail to find out what looks good and grows well during the fall.