Grounds Maintenance : Autumn Tasks For Healthy And Abundant Grounds

As summer gives way to autumn, and the leaves begin to fall, the whole landscape undergoes a dramatic change. It’s one of our favourite times of year here at Multivill, with the golden leaves and the crisp winds, but the changes to the environment at this time of year go deeper, and we have to be ready to work with them to ensure the best health for our trees, shrubs, and lawns. Keep reading for a list of tasks to begin in autumn, while this list focuses on grounds maintenance, this advice is valid for residential gardens of all sizes too. 

Key Maintenance Tasks.

1. Lawn Care And Leaf Clearance.

• Why it matters : This is a crucial part of the growing cycle for grass, as the warm air still lingers, but with increased moisture, the grass will thicken and bolster through these months until the winter weather forces it to go dormant. 

• Tasks to carry out : Aerate the lawn, remove fallen leaves from pathways, and keep the lawn edging in check to ensure overgrowth doesnt establish through the winter. 

• Benefits to residents : Regular aeration ensures a healthy and vibrant lawn, while leaves, especially wet leaves, can foster a habitat for mould and create a slippery surface on pathways.

In recent years there has come to be an argument for leaving leaves where they fall on grass. Whilst traditionally people rush to clear them, evidence suggests that these fallen leaves provide important habitat and protection for insects. Consider blowing the leaves off of the paths but leaving them on the grass areas. 

2. Tree Pruning And Deadwood Removal

• Why it matters : Autumn is a good time to carry out tree maintenance, removing dead or diseased branches, managing the tree size, and maintaining a nice shape ahead of the coming growth spurt in spring.

• Tasks to carry out : Remove dead or diseased branches, execute small crown thinnings and reduction, check buttress roots for damage, visually assess trees as the leaves come off for previously hidden damage or signs of disease. 

• Benefits to residents : This creates a safer environment, for residents and the grounds maintenance workers, encourages a more manageable environment going forwards, and allows the early identification and assessment of any problems as they arise.

3. Shrub And Hedge Trimming

• Why it matters : Like tree work, autumn is a good time to have your grounds maintenance team carry out hedge and shrub trimming and assessment, leaving them in good stead for the winter and beyond. 

• Tasks to carry out : Remove dead or diseased branches, maintain plant shape and aesthetic appeal. Identify any upcoming or current plant health issues

• Benefits to residents : Added aesthetic appeal, clearer path and road ways, and safer wintertime environment. 

4. Fertilisation And Mulching 

• Why it matters : Fertilisation and mulching create a protective, nutritious barrier for your trees and shrubs ensuring stronger roots the survive and thrive through the winter. Your grounds maintenance team should have been creating a mulch store through the year ready for autumn and winter.

• Tasks to carry out : provide fertilisation and mulching to all tree and shrub roots. Restock stores with leaves if you have elected to pick them up. 

      Potassium stores help the plants through the winter. 

• Benefits to residents : Strong, healthy roots make for strong healthy plants, adding again to aesthetic appeal, reducing costs long term (as your grounds maintenance provider wont have to carry out repair, removal, or replacement works) and a safer environment with less failing trees. 

5. Invasive Species Management  

•  Why it matters : As the leaves start to fall, but before winter dormancy, is a prime time to identify and manage invasive species that if left unchecked could cause much larger problems later on.

• Tasks to carry out. : Check the obvious areas but also check within hedges as they can sometimes shield invasive species. If any species are identified, estimate the extent of the problem and make plans for removal. 

• Benefits to residents : Long term health of the environment, as well as containment of any outbreaks. Dealing with large outbreaks of invasive species is unsightly, costly, and long winded. Catching them early is crucial. 

Tree And Shrub Autumn Pruning Schedules

Trees 

Autumn offer an opportunity to safely prune many UK tree species. As many species vary in the correct time to do them, autumn is when many overlap. 

Here is our advice for common UK species and pruning tips

Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Early autumn pruning is the perfect time for beech trees, giving them time to heal before winter. Grounds Maintenance teams should focus on low hanging branches and small crown thinnings. 

Various Maple Species, predominantly Sycamore and Field Maple, are ideally pruned in late autumn, after their leaves have fallen. This controls excessive sap flow and keeps them neat. 

Rowan (Sorbus acuparia) are susceptible to winter damage from crossed or damaged branches. Removing these lightly is a good way to maintain health.

Apple And Pear, various species, are best trimmed in late autumn, removing any dead or damaged branches and keeping the canopy in check. Pruning too early can cause growth which is then susceptible to winter damage.

Plum (Prunus domestica) benefits from a light pruning to remove deadwood and does not do well with extensive pruning.

Holly (Illex aquifolium) a hardy tree that can withstand quite extensive pruning, but an ideal time to harvest some Christmas decoration.

Yew (Taxus Baccata) being a fairly slow growing tree can tolerate good shaping pruning in autumn without the risk of new growth being exposed to harsh winter. 

Shrubs And Hedges.

Lavender. Light pruning in autumn allows for strong growth in the next spring. Focus your cuts on removing spent flower stalks and think about where to cut to allow new growth coming into a pleasing shape. Your grounds maintenance team should be pros at this. 

Hydrangea can be lighty pruned to allow deadheading but ensure not to damage the buds of next springs flowers. 

Box (Buxus sempervirens) take care with box, as they are currently under attack from box blight, a type of fungus. Prune lightly and seek professional spraying advice in the event that you discover any blight. 

Conclusion

We hope you found this list helpful and it should give you an idea what your, or your grounds maintenance team, need to be doing at this time of year. Professional and informed maintenance and tree work should massively contribute to a beautiful, healthy, and long lived landscape allowing years of enjoyment, safety, and environmental health for you. 

Check back in a few months for our list of winter tasks to carry out!