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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.
When can I plant my fall vegetables outdoors?
If seeds or small transplants are part of your plan, start planting in late summer for fall or winter gardening. Warm climates can plant later in the year than cold northern climates. You may be able to grow cruciferous vegetables and leafy greens throughout the fall and into winter if the weather stays mild. Check your planting zone for details on your growing season and specific plants, then read up on how to plant a fall vegetable garden.
What do I do with tree trunks and branches after tree removal?
A wood chipper makes tiny wood chips, while a wood splitter leaves you with more manageable chunks of wood. After pruning bushes and trees with hedge trimmers or a gas chainsaw, clean up the debris in a wood chipper. If your trees are healthy, the chopped wood makes fresh mulch that you can spread around your fall flowers and plants. If you removed a tree, you can either get a splitting maul or a log splitter to divide the downed tree into smaller pieces. The wood splitter will be quicker and a wise investment if you're doing a large amount of tree cleanup, and bigger is better here.
What do I do with all these leaves on my lawn?
Whether you need the power of a gas leaf blower or the comparatively quieter electric leaf blower, we've got both. Using a leaf blower can help you control the leaves with less physical effort. Electric versions come as cordless or corded leaf blowers. We've also got walk-behind, backpack, and handheld leaf blower models. Leaf vacuums, vacuum-mulcher combo units, or rakes are additional options. Let the gathered leaves turn into mulch and enrich your soil or fill up yard waste bags and take them out to the curb.
How do I store my a lawn mower during the winter?
To maintain outdoor power equipment, clean it before you store it. Check the manufacturer's website or your owner's manual for info on caring for a specific tool. For battery-powered tools, store the batteries in a dry place that won't let them freeze, if possible. Idle gas tools until they sputter dry and then change the oil. Your tools will last longer when put some care into them, saving you time and money.
How do I prep my swimming pool for winter?
Winterize the pool before the weather cools off too much. Clean and vacuum the pool with a special pool vacuum, then drain the water. Use a swimming pool cover to help prevent the pipes or even the pool wall itself from becoming cracked or weakened if water freezes and expands inside. While you're at it, drain and cover outdoor faucets and sprinkler systems, too.
Do I get a snow blower or snow shovel?
In climates where it gets cold and snowy, early fall is the time to prepare your snow removal equipment. Snow blowers are great, but keep an ice scraper and snow shovel to chip away ice patches and clear trouble spots. Find one-, two-, and three-stage snow blowers in electric and gas options. People with larger driveways may consider using a spreader to fling the ice melt or salt to clear the way to the mailbox or car. Prepare now before the snow starts falling.
Fall is a different time for your garden and lawn, so get out your work gloves, pole saws, pruners, and chainsaws. The focus shifts from growing to harvesting, from upkeep to cleanup. We've got fall lawn tips to help you make the most of your landscaping and garden as the season ends. We'll also guide you through fall harvest and planting. Depending on your climate, you might be able to garden throughout the chillier months. Read on for more on fall lawn and garden maintenance.
Fertilize or Patch Your Lawn
Patch bald spots on your lawn by spreading fresh grass seed. Cooler weather is a great time to fill in brown or bare places in your yard. However, make sure leaves don't land on freshly seeded areas. New grass seed needs air, sun, and water to grow, and leaf litter can block out the air and sunlight it needs to germinate.
If you're in a northern climate, prepare your cool-season grass for the fall with lawn fertilizer. Aerate your lawn before fertilizing to get the most bang for your buck. An edger gives extra polish to the perimeter of your yard. Water your cool-season lawn regularly and tend to any pesky fall 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.
Get Bulb Plants in the Ground
If you've got your eye on spring-blooming bulb plants, get those planted soon. Although their roots look different because they sprout from bulbs and not just below the stem, they still need time to grow downward. Check your plant hardiness zone before planting. In colder climates, certain bulb plants should be planted in spring instead. Plan your iris, daffodil, and tulip displays now. Garlic and onions can go in, too, for a harvest next spring or summer, but they won't need soil additives.
Try using retaining wall blocks to surround or accent your garden. A beautiful garden wall or hardscaping gives a finished look, especially when you spread a layer of rubber mulch. It'll overwinter well and resist fading longer than other mulches.
Skip the soil amendments when planting onion or garlic bulbs instead of flower bulbs. Simply plant them now, pointy-side up, and you'll have a fresh harvest by next summer. These plants will spread though, so be careful not to let them flower, dry out, and go to seed when they mature. Snip off the dried flowers to avoid planting a field of volunteer onion and garlic plants.
Cut and Cover Perennials
In climates where you might have a cold snap here and there, but then it'll warm up above freezing, cover your plants. Protect your garden from frost and freeze 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 greenhouse or blanket, 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 in the morning when the thermometer goes up again and let them enjoy that autumn sun. Once the temperatures regularly dip below freezing, say goodbye to the garden for the winter.
Put the Garden to Bed
When the sun angle changes and your annuals start looking rougher, it's time to dig up the plants. Northern climates might be putting the garden to bed for the season in October or November. After your vegetables and annuals are done for the year, dig them up and dispose of the dead plant debris. You can let them return their nutrients to the earth, but there are two exceptions: if your plants dealt with blight or if you had a slug problem.
If your garden is prone to slugs, 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 garden pests, they're still part of the ecosystem, so relocate them elsewhere if possible. As for the exception of your plants struggling with disease or blight, simply pack up those dead plants in the leaf and lawn bag to avoid passing any issues on to next year's crop.
After you've removed the old plants, you have a clean slate. Prepare your garden bed for the spring by rotating the soil with a rototiller or shovel. You want to send the topsoil down, bring up the deeper soil, and loosen the earth. It helps nutrients penetrate and lets the soil rest. 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 need to restore certain nutrients that have been depleted.
Bring Potted Plants Indoors
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 house plants to bring joy into your home. Just make sure they get enough water now that they won't benefit from rainfall, and turn them regularly to give all those 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 an outdoor fireplace, patio heater, or fire pit to take off the chill. No matter if you're looking for outdoor heaters for decks, small patios, or cozy porches, we've got options. All you have to do is discover the one that matches your decor style.
We've got fire bowls and fire pit tables ready to warm your outdoor space. Check out stylish propane and natural gas fire pits in a variety of shapes. We've also got woodburning fire pits and the firewood to stoke them. You can even build your own with fire pit kits or make it completely custom and build an in-ground fire pit to your exact specifications with pavers that lead to and surround the pit. Stop by your closest garden center to see what's in stock.
Ease Into Fall
This fall, shore up your plants and flowers for the season with us. We have the supplies you need for leaf cleanup, putting the garden to bed, and restoring nutrients to your soil so it's ready for next spring. Shop our wide variety of fall garden care in our mobile app, online, or in the aisles of your St Thomas store.
1105 Barren Spot
Kingshill, VI 00850
43.80 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 9:00pm
Sun: 7:00am - 7:00pm