THE HOUSTON HOMEOWNER'S ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FALL
ABC s Ultimate Guide to Fall 2 ABOUT TO RAKE? hold that thought! So, you have a pile of leaves you were about to rake or blow into bags and leave for trash pick-up. We ve got a better idea... Mulch them instead! Mulching saves you the time you would have spent raking and redistributes the nutrients found in fallen leaves back into your lawn. You are doing good for the planet and for your lawn by mulching instead of disposing of leaves. Mulching also helps your lawn by preventing weeds naturally. All you need is a mower, and it doesn t matter if your leaves are thin, thick, wet, or dry. Any leaves can be mulched. Need a hand with the lawn? How To Mulch Leaves: ❶ 2 ❸ 4 ❺ 6 We recommend wearing eye-protection. A pair of sunglasses will work fine. It helps when leaves are distributed evenly across your lawn (so you might actually need that rake after all). Mow in stripes across your lawn. You can get special mulching blades if needed, but any good mower will chop the leaves. If the pile is thick, lift up the front of the mower on top of the leaves to chop them. After you ve mowed the leaves covering your lawn, fluff the grass with your rake. Run back over the leaves one or two more time(s) to make sure everything is chopped up evenly. Now is a great time to fertilize!
ABC s Ultimate Guide to Fall 3 Fall is an excellent time to fertilize! Lawn fertilization is as easy as following a recipe, and this one has just three ingredients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), and Potassium (K). You ll find these three ingredients represented as 3 bold numbers on any bag of fertilizer. While your lawn always needs nutrients, the ratios change with the season, climate, and condition of your lawn prior to fertilizing. In the fall, there are a few ratios you may want to use. Fall Fertilization Ratio Calendar September - Early October Your grass is recovering from a hot season, and you may see some dry patches. Give your lawn a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, which helps promote healthy blade and foliage growth and color. October - Early November Arguably the most essential fall fertilizer you ll need is the 13-25-12, phosphorous-rich ratio. This will encourage root growth in preparation for the winter. November - December Before winter really sets in, you ll want to feed those roots even more with a big boost of 0-20-0 super phosphorous fertilizer. If you re planting fallbulbs, this will help those roots ensure a spring arrival, too.
ABC s Ultimate Guide to Fall 4 THE PESTS OF FALL And Where They Hide Color it in! Termites Mice Boxelder Bugs Stink Bugs House Centipedes
Mice: While you re sipping your pumpkin spice lattes and pulling sweaters out of storage, the last thing you ll want to deal with is the sight, smell, or sound of a mouse anywhere in your home. Mice reproduce quickly and spread diseases, like hantavirus. Season: Early fall through spring. ABC s Ultimate Guide to Fall 5 ❶ 2 ❸ Boxelder Bugs: Boxelder bugs don t just live in Boxelder trees -- they can be found on a variety of trees including Texas oaks. When the weather cools off, these bugs will migrate towards homes where they can find warmth. Season: Early fall through spring. Stink Bugs: You can find these bugs on the warmer side of the building s exterior. If you have a vegetable garden, that is of particular risk. Usually, once inside the home, stink bugs will be found near windows and entry ways seeking a way outdoors. Season: Early fall through winter. More Pests This Fall: Because Houston has been warmer and wetter than usual, ants and termites may be a bigger issue this fall than usual. When winter approaches, keep an eye out for silverfish and house centipedes. Both pests venture into homes during the coldest months. Caulk moulding, baseboards, interior and exterior windows, bathroom and kitchen plumbing and piping. Make sure windows and doors are screened and sealed. Keep food stored in your pantry sealed tight and do not leave out food. Pests bugging you?