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2013 Fall Home Improvement September 25, 2013
Special edition of LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com
While autumn sets in for the year,
it is appropriate to begin main-
taining lawn-care equipment.
Be sure to check your mower’s
blades for signs of dulling or a
need for replacement. Before the
mower is put away for the year,
it’s a good idea to empty it of
fluids, with the thought in mind to
get fresh oil and gas when spring
returns.
Before the mower is put away,
try chopping up leaves into a fine
consistency for extra mulch to
apply to new plants. Apply mulch
after the first frost of the year.
Finally, the early part of fall
makes for a perfect time to check
for pests like grubs or slugs.
Applying a layer of any pest-
preventing product may help to
ensure that various insects do not
find their way into your home for
the colder months ahead.
Fall to winter
In transitioning to winter, the
greatest task set before any gar-
dener or lawn enthusiast is the
care of trees and shrubs, especial-
ly those that are new to the yard.
Should you have trees that have
not been transplanted to the soil,
it is a good idea to bring them
inside, where they can be main-
tained during the winter months.
Even in winter, the heat of sum-
mer can have a bad effect on
trees.
Evergreens can prove to be a
larger concern, as evergreens are
at risk for desiccation, which is
drying out from the wind or sun.
It is important to water these trees
until the ground freezes, to ensure
they receive proper moisture.
Keep in mind that evergreens
continue to live during the colder
months, and they have to be main
tained as such, unlike other trees.
Shrubs may benefit from addi-
tional watering and protection as
well. Options for protection in-
clude putting up a snow fence or
other type of windbreak; or using
anti-transpirants, which will help
prevent plants from drying out.
Another winter problem to pre-
pare for is sunscald. Sunscald
occurs when sunlight heats up the
south and southwest side of tree
trunks. As weather changes and
temperatures drop, an injury may
occur that will create an appear-
ance of sunken or discolored bark.
Frost cracking can also occur as a
result of these changes.
Sunscald can be managed by
using tree wraps made of crepe
paper that help to insulate tree
bark. In late October or early No-
vember, wrap trunks upward from
the base of the tree to a point just
above the lowest branches. Be
sure to remove the tree wrap and
tape in April to avoid girdling.
Finally, winter feeding of rabbits
and voles may be a concern. Put-
ting up a barrier, such as chicken
wire or hardware cloth, is a good
defense for trees.
University of Illinois Gardener’s
Corner:
/
gardenerscorner/.
