Ways to Enjoy your Backyard Garden this Fall

Fall certainly has its benefits; the cool weather makes it pleasant to be outdoors and embrace the beauty of nature before the winter arrives. Your backyard should showcase what you enjoy; it should be a space that reflects your personality while accenting the exterior of your home. Here are a few ideas that will enhance to your backyard enjoyment during the fall months.

Plant some Veggies

Fall is a great time for gardening; many crops grow best during the cool weather. Several plants need to be watered less when it’s cold. Many leafy vegetables including kale, cabbage and Swiss chard grow best in cool weather. Experts suggest planning young plants rather than seeds and fertilizing before it gets too cold. Other vegetables that grow well in the fall include beats, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, peas, spinach, turnip, radishes, eggplant, cucumbers and squash. Fall gardens are also typically cheaper to create and maintain, just another reason to start planting. Fall is also a great time to repair summer lawn damage by seeding and fertilizing the bare spots on the grass.

Build a Butterfly House

Did you know that birds aren’t the only ones that need a home in your backyard? It turns out that you can attract more butterflies by building a butterfly house. Butterfly houses are tall and narrow structures with a few vertical slits in the front. They serve as shelter for butterflies during the colder months. A great way to add security to the butterflies’ home is by adding tree bark in a vertical position; this provides better protection and gives the butterflies something to cling onto when they go into hibernation. A butterfly home needs to be set up in a sunny location, mounted against a wall or wooden pole about 4 feet off the ground.

Prepare for Spring

Did you know that the fall is great time to start preparing your garden for next spring? Some plants need to set their roots before the ground freezes. Some of these plants include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, and crocus. Perennial flowers are great additions to fall gardens because they come back every season without needing to be replanted. If you don’t have a green thumb, these flowers are beautiful and low-maintenance. Other flower options include mums, peonies, hibiscus, asters, and coral bells.

Create a Backyard Oasis

Create an area in the backyard where you can relax and watch the changing leaves. Take advantage of the end of the season patio furniture sales and score some great deals on outdoor furniture. Adding a bench, hammock or swing are great ways to provide comfortable and cozy seating. Buy or build a fire pit and gather around with friends and family, roast some hotdogs or make everyone’s favorite campfire treat, s’mores. Enhance the ambiance of your garden by adding string lights to illuminate the backyard during those autumn nights. Add a garden gnome, they are good luck and protect the garden.

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