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The garden and fall yard care are just a few of the fall chores in need of maintenance and should be on a seasonal checklist for proper yard maintenance.

At the first killing frost, when the growing season ends, it is time to give attention to yard maintenance along with maintaining the various man-made features of the home landscape.

Fall clean up is a perfect time – cool weather, and no pressing need to hurry to some other task, make these jobs a pleasure.

Walls, Fences and Gateways

Fences made of wire should be checked for security. Many fences sag or are pulled out of shape by plants growing on them or for other reasons. Check for loose staples, broken wires, or rotting posts.

Wooden fences posts or braces may need repainting or treating to prevent rotting or destruction by termites.

Check for nails that are drawing out, due to heat and curing of the wood. This often happens where there are long days of hot sunshine. Painting is always necessary for wooden fences, and especially if the colors are a key part of the overall color scheme.

Fall painting is recommended so the “new paint” will weather before spring. This prevents that glaring new look and the smell of fresh paint in the spring garden.

On trellis plants, check for loose or hanging vines. These should be clipped and confined to their structure because if they become loaded with snow or ice, the extra weight may easily break them down, or the structure on which they are climbing. Check and realign the espalier plants for the same reasons.

Check masonry walls for loose stones or mortar, and repaint if necessary.

Inspect the garden gates for sagging or dragging, oil the hinges, and make sure the latches are in good working order. A squeaking gate is not in any sense aesthetic.

Terraces, Patios, Benches, Retaining Walls, and Walks

Another part of gardening maintenance is loose paving stones which are frequent offenders on terraces and patios, and chipped paving is another. In terraces paved with combined materials, the length of durability varies, so the surface must be checked regularly.

Every gardener realizes the value of a comfortable seat in the garden. Keep benches and lawn chairs in good repair.

Retaining walls that hold the soil for changes in elevation can easily settle, crack, or get out of alignment. A major repair can often be prevented by early action. Fall is a good time to make repairs in retaining walls as any interfering plants may easily be moved.

The walks should be inspected as to construction and surface condition, and any necessary repairs made. Remove encroaching grass and weeds from the walks.

Steps can easily become hazardous. Perhaps they are not well designed in the first place, and you should consider replacing them. Good garden steps should have a slight riser (approximately five inches) and a broad tread that will accommodate a foot without crowding.

Also, if properly designed, they will not break the natural stride of people using them.

Loose steps, or loose stones in steps, should be checked and repaired. Nothing detracts more from the pleasure of a garden than insecure footing.

Rock Gardens and Planter Walls

Fall garden clean up and yard maintenance is the time for repair or construction of dry masonry planter walls or rock gardens. Fortunate is the gardener who has the slope or rough terrain suitable for rockery development.

Remove overgrown or underdeveloped plants. Replace or reset stones, and add new soil in preparation for next season.

Replace and secure steps, realign stones to catch and hold moisture, or add new stones or soil.

In wall planters where niches are filled with growing plants, check for displaced stones that might slip and fall, or that have been pushed out of alignment by the growing plants.

Often a plant will dislodge a stone, causing all of its roots to be exposed or the soil to be lost. Either case might result in the death of the plant.

Pools, Fountains, and Other Water Features

Clean and repair backyard ponds and garden pools. For several reasons fall is the best time.

Water lilies can be repotted, ready to begin growth in the early spring. Plants will grow only protective leaves during the winter and these are below water and very short stemmed.

The most important reason for fall clean up, though, is that the fish spawn very early in the spring. If the pool is cleaned in the fall, the environment is perfect in the spring for both fish and water plants.

Many gardeners never have early lily blooms or new fish because they destroy both by spring cleaning of pools. Check and repair all mechanisms that keep any fountains in operation during the spring and summer seasons.

Many fountains are turned off during winter, due to the cold temperatures, and some pools are drained for the same reason. Actually, pools need not be drained in the southern areas of Mid-America, but the water level should be kept constant.

Keep the bird bath in good repair and full of water for the birds.

Outdoor Grills and Fireplaces

Whether permanent or portable these need to be cleaned, repainted, painted or otherwise made ready for the winter. In permanent fireplaces, check for loose firebrick, loose grill rods and rusty accessories. A good coat of stove paint will clean up the metal parts.

It is also a good idea to put away all of the accessories for the grill or fireplace. Often these items have a way of becoming misplaced or disappearing.

Record Keeping

It is wise to catalog all of your yard cleanup jobs. Make garden notes for further reference, or reminders to do certain chores later. Make a note to remind yourself to recheck the grounds in late winter after the effects of freezing and thawing have passed.