The Gull's Call - Oct/Nov/Dec 2026

CommunityBlog

Your Early-Fall Yard Care To-Do List August blog post featured on harborbay.org B Y EARLY FALL, EVEN THE MOST CAREFULLY maintained yard can look a little tired. Lawns may start to slow their growth, flowering plants begin to fade, and cooler temperatures bring noticeable changes throughout the landscape. Fall is the perfect time to give your yard some attention, address small problems, and prepare your plants and landscape for cooler weather and the rainy season ahead. CHECK YOUR IRRIGATION As temperatures begin to cool in early fall, your landscape’s watering needs can change. Before adjusting your irrigation schedule, make sure your system is delivering water where and when it’s needed. Turn on each irrigation zone and watch it operate. Look for clogged sprinkler heads, broken lines, overspray onto sidewalks, and areas where water is pooling or running into the street. Fall is a good time to correct these issues before the rainy season arrives. Drip irrigation lines can also become disconnected or blocked, leaving one plant thirsty while another receives more water than it needs. If your irrigation runs early in the morning or while you’re away, take a few minutes to inspect the system so small problems don’t go unnoticed. WATERING TIPS 1. Water like you nap. Watering slowly and deeply encourages roots to grow farther into the soil, where moisture remains available longer. When hand watering, many people treat it as a hydration race—wet the soil and get finished as soon as possible. But frequent, quick watering can keep water near the surface and that creates a shallow root system because the roots go where the water is. That makes plants more vulnerable to heat and dry conditions, as well as toppling.

2. Water early. Watering during the cooler part of the morning reduces evaporation while allowing leaves and soil surfaces to dry during the day. 3. Change it up. Adjust irrigation as temperatures change rather than relying on the same schedule all season. REFRESH MULCH, BUT GIVE PLANTS ROOM A layer of mulch helps soil retain moisture, moderates soil temperature, and discourages weeds. (Note we said discourages, not much eliminates them but we can try, right?) By August, mulch applied earlier in the year likely has shifted or become thin in heavily exposed areas. Add mulch where soil is bare, but avoid piling it against tree trunks, plant stems, fences, or building foundations. Excess mulch around a trunk can trap moisture and contribute to rot, while mulch against a structure may create an inviting hiding place for pests. Before adding more, gently loosen compacted mulch so water can reach the soil instead of running across the surface. PRUNE SELECTIVELY Early fall is a good time to give your landscape a light cleanup. Remove dead flowers, broken branches, and clearly damaged growth, and do modest trimming to maintain clearance around walkways, windows, and outdoor lighting. Avoid aggressive pruning, especially while temperatures are still warm or conditions are dry. Heavy cutting can expose previously shaded branches and leaves to direct sunlight, increasing plant stress as they adjust to seasonal changes. Save major pruning for the appropriate time for each tree or shrub. Some plants need their existing growth to produce flowers the following season, while others benefit from pruning at a different point in their growth cycle. If you’re unsure when or how to prune a particular

18 October | November | December 2026

The Gull’s Call