Fall Property Clean Up in Sidney and North Saanich
We’ll get your Sidney property ready for the winter.
When the leaves start to turn yellow and fall onto your Sidney property it’s time to consider getting your lawn and landscaping ready for the cold, wet winter months ahead. A good fall clean up now, can actually set your property up for a healthier rejuvenation during the spring growth spurts. It takes work to have a nice looking front yard and if you don’t have that kind of time on your hands then you’ll need to find a lawn care or landscaping professional that can help you.
Island Pro Mowing and Landscaping is based out of Sidney, BC. We provide a variety of fall lawn and landscape clean up services for residential and commercial properties on the Saanich Peninsula. From cleaning up a rental property, to a vacation home, townhomes, condos and even commercial landscapes we do it all when it comes to fall clean ups and getting your property ready for the winter.
#1. A Final Cut, Edge and Fertilization Of Your Lawn
The fall on Vancouver Island is the time to start getting your lawn ready for another west coast winter. With the spring and summer growing season behind us, chances are it took a toll on your lawn, especially with the dry summer we’ve had this year. Getting your lawn ready for the winter will help protect it from the weather and disease so it can grow into lush, green grass the next spring. If your lawn was affected by drought, disease, insects and weeds then now is the time to take care of those problems in preparation for next year.
Usually during later September and into October is the best time to give your lawn that “final cut” until next spring. This is also a good time to edge your lawn and do any trimming and last but not least aerate and fertilize your lawn to keep the grass healthy and well-fed. Any patchy areas with dead grass can be re-seeded or repaired with turf.
#2. Trimming and Pruning Of Trees, Hedges and Shrubs
Trimming and pruning back dead branches and unwanted growth on your trees, hedges and shrubs is an important part of a healthy landscape, especially during the winter. During the cold, wet winter months any dead or decaying branches and foliage can create breeding grounds for mold, mildew and diseases that can affect your trees and surrounding plants.
The healthy trees and shrubs on your property have two hormones that regulate their growth. Auxins are produced by the leaves and buds on a tree while Cytokinins are produced by the roots of the tree or shrub. Proper pruning and trimming of your trees and shrubs at the right time of year (depending on species) can help stimulate these hormones into healthier growth.
#3. Carefully Raking Out and Cleaning Garden Beds
Keeping your garden beds clean and free from organic debris will promote a healthier, disease free garden. When you don’t clean up the leaves and other organic debris out of your garden the wet fall months help the growth of various molds and mildews which in turn create breeding grounds for all kinds of different diseases that can affect your plants. Keeping your garden beds free from this material helps keep the soil healthy, which in turn keeps your plants healthy.
Garden beds should also be turned over at this time and any additives that need to be added to the soil to fertilize or balance out your PH can be done at this time.
#4. Spreading Mulch
After the garden beds have been raked out it’s a good time to consider an application of mulch. Mulch (depending on which type) can perform a variety of functions in your garden other than just making it look nice and uniform. A thick layer of bark mulch (2″-3″) can help protect and insulate your soil and root systems from the cold winter or fish compost can help fertilize and feed your soil to promote vigorous growth the following spring. There are many different types of mulches available that will be beneficial for your landscape.
#5. Power Washing Decks and Patios
Decks, patios, driveways and sidewalks that haven’t been properly cleaned before the wet, rainy season can become very slippery and dangerous. Algae and other organic matter can grow on concrete and cement and then it just takes a little bit of rain to make the surface extremely slippery. Power washing these surfaces to remove all the organic material before winter will ensure that you or someone else doesn’t slip and injure themselves. After a good power washing your driveway, deck or patio will look like new again and be much easier to clean in the spring.
#6. Cleaning Gutters and Downspouts
Cleaning gutters are a very important aspect of any good fall/winter property maintenance regime. We get a lot of rainfall here on the Island every winter and if the systems on your home that deal with excess water (your gutters) aren’t in good working order it can lead to very big problems with your building foundation.
It’s important to clean your gutters at least once or twice per year, sometimes even more depending on the property. For example if you live in Deep Cove and your property is surrounded by large, tall trees, you’ll want to clean your gutters more frequently than someone who has no tree cover.
Gutter protection systems can be installed to prevent organic debris from clogging the gutters but these systems are pricey, and in many cases simply do not work as well as they advertised. They are clever ways to separate a homeowner from their money and someone still ends up having to clean the gutters eventually anyways!
The best gutter maintenance program involves a little bit of sweat equity and regularly cleaning the gutters once or twice a year or however often they need it.
You’ll also want to make sure the gutter drain screens are clear and water can flow through the down spouts and into your drain tiles without blockages. If you have a two story home or steep roof lines then it’s best to trust the gutter cleaning to a professional who has the right safety equipment, and large enough ladders to clean the gutters.
Do You Need Someone To Complete Any Of These Services in Sidney or North Saanich?
Island Pro Mowing and Landscaping is a full service lawn and landscaping maintenance contractor based out of Sidney, BC. We specialize in getting Sidney and North Saanich properties ready for the fall and winter season.
If you need any of the above services performed on your property please don’t hesitate to give us a call 250-812-4676 or send us an email through our online contact form and someone will be in touch shortly.
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