Simple Steps to Clean Up Your Yard

First things first: Clear the ground by raking dead leaves, then use trash or lawn bags to dispose of them. Because your lawn is dormant during the cold winter months, now’s the time to let it breathe. Lawn aeration breaks up compacted soil and creates pockets of air that can then be filled with compost.

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you can rent a power lawn aerator from The Home Depot. An aerator's hollow tines cut through thatch and into turf to allow water, air and fertilizer to penetrate.

After aerating your lawn, spread a thin layer of soil conditioner or fine-textured compost over it using a rake. Known as top dressing, this toughens your turf and helps it to resist thatch, disease and the growth of weeds.

A healthy lawn is a happy lawn. Giving your lawn the nutrients and care it needs is the best way to keep weeds at bay. A weed trimmer pulls weeds up from the roots, making the process quick and easy. You can apply a pre-emergent weed killer to your lawn to prevent weeds from taking root in the future.

For a professional look, edge your lawn. Edging a lawn tidies up the space and keeps grass within bounds.

You’d be amazed at how the smallest of creatures can cause damage to your yard. There are a number of ways to control pests, including applying pesticides, using other insects to feed on them or washing them off with water, to name a few.

When you're shopping for plants this spring, look for disease- and pest-resistant varieties to keep fungus, bacteria and other diseases from damaging your lawn and garden.

Whether they originate from disease, damage or pet urine, bare spots in your yard are unsightly. It's easy to repair bare patches in spring.

First, fill the exposed patch with a good grade of topsoil. Then, scatter grass seed over the area, (being careful not to plant too many seeds). Rake the patch lightly (about 5 to 10 percent of the seeds should be visible), and spread a thin layer of compost over the area. The seeds should be watered daily, but ensure they don’t become too soggy.

Improve the overall look of your yard by mowing grass, trimming trees and shrubs, clipping hedges, pruning plants, edging the lawn, picking up debris and washing away dirt using a pressure washer from The Home Depot Tool Rental Center.

Also, consider using the grass clippings as mulch for vegetable or flower gardens, or adding them to a compost pile.

Winter weather can wreak havoc on your deck, patio or fence. Rotted wood, cracked tiles, loose boards, rusted metal – not only are these unattractive, but they pose safety issues as well.

Even if the deck structure is sound, a coat of stain or sealer will give your deck new life for the outdoor season ahead.

Deck maintenance is a big project. If the work is more than you can handle on your own, call on the professionals at The Home Depot.

Give your lawn extra care in fall for a healthier lawn next spring. True, autumn is famously the season for raking leaves, but it’s also time to fertilize and reseed cool-season grasses.

Keep your lawn neat by raking leaves, or using a blower to corral them and then bag or mulch them. Rake regularly to keep leaves from blocking sunlight on the grass.

You can use your lawn mower to mulch leaves that can be spread on your garden to protect plants.

Use a slow-release lawn fertilizer to feed cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fescue. With cooler temperatures and more rain, the grass will have energy to expand its root network. See our guide where we break down and explain the types of fertilizers your yard needs.

Overseed an existing lawn to revive worn-down grass and to fill in bare patches. Fall is also the best time to plant a new lawn. Learn how to prep, seed and water a new lawn.

Continue mowing your lawn through late summer and fall. It’s important to keep the grass trimmed, but you’ll need to lower the mower's carriage to its lowest setting for the final mowings of the season. This will help your grass focus on growing roots.

Remember to water your lawn, too, especially if you’re in an arid region or during times of drought. Lawns need, on average, about an inch of water a week to maintain that lush, green look.

It’s important to clean tools before putting them away for the winter. Begin by washing off any dirt or debris and drying. Remove rust and coat metal parts with a lubricant. Keep your garden tools neatly stored in a cool, dry place like a storage shed or a garage.