Yellow and green maple leaves cover tree branches, creating a dense canopy. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting a mix of light and shadow. Some trees with green foliage are visible in the background.

The silvery lace of morning frosts shimmered in the rising sun before the landscape became gilded in the warm, golden embrace of October’s aura. Colorful leaves quaked and swayed against the crisp blue sky before floating towards the ground. These are the glory days, the golden days – the height of Autumn’s beauty.

A wooden fence stands in front of a beige house with two small windows. A tree trunk and a green trash bin are visible beside the fence. Shadows from tree branches fall across the house and fence.

With November being just a stone’s throw away, we must turn our attention to the winterization of our lawns. This does not mean packing up the mower until next year. Quite the contrary.

Close-up of green grass with a light dusting of frost or snow on the blades, creating a contrast between the bright green and white. The background is blurred.

Our lawns, more than ever, require our care and diligence. What we do now, before winter, can help prevent damage and disease come Spring. Continue to mow until the grass has gone completely dormant. This is a must! The last mow of the season should be cut slightly shorter, around 2″. Leaves should continue to be removed and thatch properly managed via aeration. Take advantage of late Fall fertilizations, aptly referred to as “winterizers” – perhaps the most important fertilization of the season. Winterizers benefit the lawn’s root system all throughout the winter months and affects the lawn’s development in Spring. Roots absorb and store the nutrients in winter, which are then immediately available to the lawn in Spring when temperatures begin to warm. The result is lush, healthy, green grass.

A white landscaping truck and trailer labeled Sweeneys Custom Landscaping, Inc. are parked on a suburban street near houses and leafless trees on a sunny day.

So whatever you do, don’t call off the mowers yet and schedule your late Fall fertilization by contacting Sweeney’s for a healthy, verdant lawn in Spring

Plant of the Week

A close-up of a greenish-pink hellebore flower with five petals, surrounded by green leaves and other plants in the background. The flowers petals have subtle red edges and veins.

Ivory Prince Hellebore

Burgundy-pink buds open in late winter to stunning ivory blooms, streaked in rose, eventually maturing to a soft chartreuse March – April amongst bluish-green foliage.  Prefers shade to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows 18-24″ tall and 18-24″ wide.  Deer resistant.  Attracts pollinators.

“October is the month for painted leaves.  As fruits and leaves, and the day itself acquire a bright tint just before they fall, so the year near its setting.  October is its sunset sky; November the later twilight.”

-Henry David Thoreau

Warm wishes,

Kim Sweeney