Fall Landscape Tips

In the fall, a little groundwork is essential to keeping your yard water-efficient and looking great:

Mow, fertilize, aerate

Lower your mower's height to 1½ inches to stimulate new crown growth. Fertilize in late-September or early-October with a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Fertilizer not only improves turf quality, root growth and color—it also builds cold resistance into your grass. Fertilize once more in November to get your landscape through winter with style.

Aerate grass in September or October as well. Compacted soils are all too common in the Las Vegas Valley. Aeration boosts water penetration, which reduces runoff on slopes and helps water and fertilizer nutrients get down to the roots. Aerate again in the spring.

Stop watering daily

From Sept. 1 through Oct. 31, landscape watering is limited to three assigned days per week. Watering restrictions also apply to drip irrigation. Sunday is not an optional watering day. Landscape watering from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. is prohibited through Sept. 30.

To verify your watering group, check your monthly water bill or use the online Find your watering group tool.

Cycle-and-soak watering

Water in three short, four-minute cycles during the early-morning hours. For brown spots or problem areas, try hand watering rather than increasing the timer on your irrigation clock. As weather cools, water in several, short mid-morning cycles to prevent ice formation on driveways and walks.

Daylight-saving time ends

Don't forget to reset your irrigation clock when daylight-saving time ends on the first Sunday in November. When you're changing your indoor clocks, make sure you also change the time on your irrigation clock. This also is a great time to check your clock's batteries.

Check your system

1. Inspect filter screens for damage. Clean the filter screens by opening the end of the filter and running water through briefly. Soak the screens in a 50/50 water and vinegar solution if there is mineral buildup.
2. Flush the irrigation lines. Find the end cap and briefly run the system to flush out debris.
3. Check valve boxes for debris buildup or muddy conditions indicating poor drainage.

Enjoy color now

For great fall color, plant flowers like Black-Eyed Susan and Snapdragon, grasses like Regal Mist and trees like the Chinese Pistache and Modesto Ash.

If you're the patient type, purchase fall bulbs now for planting in November. These bulbs will yield bright colors in the spring: Anemone, Daffodil, Dahlia, Gladiolus, Hyacinth, Narcissus, Ranunculus and Tulips.

Mulch

Mulch is the little-noticed workhorse of many a smart gardener’s landscape. Mulch is a protective covering—organic or inorganic—we place in a wide circle around plants to prevent moisture evaporation, root freezing and weed growth. Using mulch can reduce evaporation by as much as 30 percent.