The work of a property management company is never really done. There are tasks to be completed during every season. Fall is no exception to that rule. In fact, this time of year is critical to ensuring that steps are taken to prepare the landscaping including the lawn, walkways, and driveways for the onslaught of a typical New England winter.
Responsive and proactive property management companies know that there are many tasks that should be completed during this time of year to ensure that residents and visitors alike will remain safe and that the landscaping will flourish in the coming year.
Here are a few of those steps that your management team may want to consider.
Landscaping
While the growing season may be almost done, there is still much to do to ready the grass, shrubs, and trees for the winter season.
We all know that winter can be fairly wild here in Massachusetts but if you take the right care of your landscaping you will find the winter more bearable and the spring to reap rewards of your fall efforts.
- Rake all leaves and remove them from the property. This will help the grass breathe and stop leaves from becoming slipping issues along your walkways and driveways.
- Aerate grass and apply the last fertilizer.
- Cut grass for the final time during the season.
In order to protect your shrubbery and ornamental plants from the cold and snow build-up our region can experience, you may want to take further steps.
- Prune trees to ensure spring flowering will occur.
- Trim dead or broken branches so they won’t fall during winter storms.
- Protect shrubbery against winter water loss by protecting it in a layer of mulch.
- Wrap tender plantings in burlap or by building an A frame wooden protection system around bushes that are open to heavy snow.
- Minimize salt damage by having an area to shovel or plow snow that will not impact plantings.
Hardscaping
Non-organic aspects of your landscaping such as the walkways, stone walls, and driveways will need upkeep during the fall months as well.
Make sure you have removed all leaves and debris after the majority of foliage has fallen. This will save you time and effort in the spring and keep your walkways and driveways safe for your residents to walk.
Provide driveways guides for your snow plow operators to visually see the edges to stop damage to sidewalks and landscape areas.
Place salt containers in easily accessible areas so residents can use them if their cars become stuck on ice or snow. This will also make it easier for your shovel crew to salt after each storm.
Prep now so that your New England winter will go smoothly no matter what Mother Nature sends our way.