Preparing your yard for fall in the Northstate
REDDING, Calif. — October begins this weekend, and though the weather certainly wouldn’t suggest it, fall is underway. That being said, this warm weather is perfect for getting your property ready for the new season, from the lawn to the leaves and the trees.
Leaves and other plant debris are starting to pile up across the Northstate, and those looking to clear their yard have multiple options. Shasta County encourages residents to compost their own leaves, but they can also be disposed of in green carts as long as they are not in bags. In terms of taking care of your yard and landscaping equipment, the Northstate's News spoke with staff at locally owned Al's Saw Shop.
“Aerating is always a good idea, especially for how hot and dry it’s been for us. That top layer of the soil tends to compact real tight, and it won’t let very much water in, so we recommend aerating. another thing you can do for your lawn is also dethatching and so that’ll also help alleviate that topsoil issue, so it’ll get rid of a lot of the dead debris, from everything from the dead grass to the dead roots that tend to pile up as it gets cooler,” said manager Justin Brown.
With the pleasant weather ahead, you can make significant progress on these projects as well as continue your efforts to create defensible space around your home. This includes clearing nuisance branches and tall grasses that you may have not been able to cut during the hotter months.
Extreme caution is still necessary when operating power equipment like lawnmowers and weedwhackers, as these tools can start fires when used on dry grasses.
Fall is also a great time to set yourself up for success in regards to equipment maintenance, including checking the blades on your lawnmower so that it is ready to go, come springtime.
If you do get to work outside this weekend, you can learn more on how to properly dispose of what’s cluttering your yard using the "How Do I Get Rid Of?" tool operated by Shasta County.
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