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When you're ready to seed your lawn, our calculator helps you estimate the amount of grass seed you'll need to get the job done.
Enter your preferred material, the square footage and mulch depth of the coverage space for accurate results.
We'll calculate the amount of fencing you should purchase based on your property needs.
Will my veggies survive a frost?
Fall plants should be mature by first frost so the cold won't kill them. Heat-loving plants, like bell peppers, won't often survive a frost unless they're covered, but other plants don't mind so much. Cole crops, or crucifererous veggies, like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale, thrive in cooler temperatures and may continue growing into the winter months. Get incredible depth to their taste by harvesting these veggies after frost. The plants convert starches to sugar, so they'll taste sweeter than previous harvests. Root veggies, like carrots and beets, also love chillier temperatures.
Should I get a wood chipper or a log splitter?
Wood chippers make tiny chips, while wood splitters leave you with more manageable chunks of wood. After pruning trees and bushes with a gas chainsaw or hedge trimmers, clean up the debris in a wood chipper. If your trees are healthy, the wood makes mulch that you can spread in your fall garden. If you removed a tree, you can either get a log splitter or a splitting maul to break up the wood into smaller pieces. A wood splitter is quicker and a wise investment if you're doing an expansive amount of tree cleanup, and the bigger the splitter, the better.
Is it better to use a leaf blower or rake on fall leaves?
Although it may sometimes feel like a losing battle, you can stay on top of leaf maintenance. For a classic method, go with a rake, some work gloves, and leaf bags. We've also got leaf blowers if you'd prefer outdoor power tools.
How do I store my garden tools for the season?
Give your yard and garden a good cleaning, then store the tools for the winter. Remove rust and dirt with a soak in soapy water, then dry your tools well. Next, soak them in a water and bleach mix for 20 minutes to kill off any fungus, and follow with a rinse. Then, polish off rust with a wire brush, oil them with WD-40 or vegetable oil if necessary, and ensure they're dry before hanging them in a garage or shed.
How do I prepare outdoor taps for winter?
Prepare for freezing temps by covering outside spigots with faucet covers. Winterizing the hose bibb can be put off until watering the garden or washing the car in the driveway is done for the year, but don't wait until the temps drop into the 40s. With all hoses disconnected, turn off the indoor valves that control the spigots, then open the taps and let them run until the water stops. If you have an irrigation system or built-in sprinklers, drain those as well as per the manufacturer's instructions. You may need an air compressor to get out every last drop of water. While you're at it, get a pool vacuum and pool cover and winterize your swimming pool, too.
How early do I prep for snowfall?
In climates where it gets cold and snowy, early fall is the time to prepare your snow removal tools. Snow blowers are great, but keep a snow shovel or two to chip away ice patches and clear trouble spots. We carry gas snow blowers, electric snow blowers, and cordless ones, too. People with larger driveways may consider using a spreader to evenly distribute the ice melt or salt to clear a path to the mailbox. Shop now before the weather cools more and the snow rolls in.
When a crisp day breezes in, hinting at the seasonal change, take advantage of it to do outdoor maintenance. Bushes and trees slow their growth for the season and need a trim with pole saws and chainsaws . Leaf maintenance is likely a concern, so check out leaf blowers, yard waste bags, and rakes. Be sure to get a wheelbarrow and buckets to gather your fall harvest. You may even be able to garden throughout fall and into winter, if you'd like. Read on to learn how to ease into your fall lawn and garden.
Fertilize or Patch Your Lawn
Fix bald spots on your lawn by spreading fresh grass seed. Autumn is a great time to fill in brown, dead, or bare places in your yard. However, make sure leaves don't fall on freshly seeded areas. New grass seed needs air, water, and sun to grow, and leaf litter can block out the air and sunlight it needs to germinate.
If your lawn is in good shape, make sure it stays that way by applying lawn fertilizer if you have cool-season grass. Aerate your lawn before fertilizing to get those nutrients down near the roots right away. An edger gives extra polish to the perimeter of your yard. Water your cool-season lawn regularly and tend to any pesky weeds that show up. It'll need different maintenance than warm-season grass, which goes dormant as the weather cools. Taper down watering on warm-season lawns.
Fall Gardening
Fall planting is often overlooked, but autumn is the perfect time to get additional flowers in your garden. Mums, the nickname for chrysanthemums, provide a beautiful pop of fall color. Find them in shades of white, pink, purple, orange, red, and yellow. You might also choose some marigolds for red, yellow, and orange blooms that last until the first frost, or longer if you shield them. Remember to explore the wide variety of fall plant and flower options.
Shrubs and succulents also blossom in the fall, especially if they're kept in pots or already well-established in the ground. Succulent planters allow for easier upkeep of sensitive succulents. Customize the soil in the planters to fit these desert plants, as they need a sandy succulent soil mixture.
For shrubs, look after the ones you've got or plant new ones, weather permitting. Get in new plants now, especially if you're in a warmer climate and have time before the frost and cold sets in. If you use retaining wall blocks to surround or accent your garden, try giving a finished look with rubber mulch. It'll overwinter just fine and look new longer than bark chips or other mulches that fade with weathering.
Cut and Cover Perennials
In climates where you might have a cold snap and then warm up above freezing again, cover your plants. Protect your garden from freeze and frost damage to extend their season. You can get extra life out of your garden by covering your plants with 5-gallon buckets, tarps, or even painting drop cloths. It'll warm your plants like a blanket or greenhouse, and they'll survive a frost.
This works well early on, until you're fully into the colder parts of the season. Uncover the plants when the thermometer goes up again and let them enjoy that autumn sunshine. Once the temperatures regularly dip below freezing, bid a fond farewell to the garden for now.
Put the Garden to Bed
When the sun angle changes and your annuals start looking rougher, dig up the plants. Northern climates might be putting the garden to bed for the season in October or November, while warmer climates might wait until November or December. After your annuals are done blooming for the year, dig them up, then chop and dispose of the dead plant debris. Feel free to let them decompose to enrich the soil unless you had one of two exceptions: if your plants dealt with disease or if you had a snail problem.
If your garden is prone to snails, move the departed plants from the garden to another part of your lawn to decay, or put the plant remains in a yard waste bag. Although slugs and snails are often considered pests by gardeners, they're still part of the ecosystem, so relocate them elsewhere if you can. As for the exception of your plants struggling with blight or disease, simply pack up those dead plants in the leaf bag to avoid passing any issues on to next year's crop.
After you've removed the old plants, you've got a clean slate. Prepare your garden bed for the spring by rotating the soil with a rototiller or shovel. You want to loosen the earth so the topsoil goes down and the deeper soil comes up. It lets the soil rest and helps nutrients penetrate. It's also an excellent opportunity to test the soil and see what, if any, soil amendments you need. Different crops and plants use different nutrients. Test your soil to see if it's balanced or if you ought to add certain nutrients that have been depleted.
Indoor Gardening
Gardeners with potted plants can extend their growing season by bringing the plants indoors to a sunny window. Indoor gardening allows both outdoor plants to live longer and indoor plants to bring joy into your home. Just make sure they get enough water, and turn them regularly to give all leaves equal sunlight for photosynthesis. If the pots don't have built-in overflow dishes, be sure to add shallow bowls beneath them to catch any extra water.
Warm the Outdoors with a Patio Heater
Stretch out your fall evenings with a fire pit, outdoor fireplace, or patio heater to take off the chill. No matter if you're looking to heat a small patio, a cozy back porch, or a spacious deck, we've got options. All you have to do is discover the one that matches your decor style.
When you're curious about how to build an outdoor fireplace or fire pit, we have the supplies you need. We carry brick pavers, mortar, a wheelbarrow, trowels, and more. Let us help you get this fall project done. If you'd love some extra heat but would rather not install a gas fire pit or fireplace, we also have patio heaters, including gas, propane, and electric models.
Ease Into Autumn
This fall, prepare your garden and lawn for the change of season with us. We've got everything you need for leaf cleanup, putting the garden to bed, and replenishing nutrients in your soil so it's ready for next spring. Shop our wide variety of fall garden care and outdoor living products in your Merchant's Walk store, online, or in our mobile app.
3605 Sandy Plains Rd
Marietta, GA 30066
4.34 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am - 8:00pm
6400 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
5.78 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am - 8:00pm
870 Woodstock Rd
Roswell, GA 30075
6.07 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am - 8:00pm