Fall lawn cleanup and winterizing

[Ladybug]

We have a much bigger, more complex lawn now. The kids and I are toiling away at the leaves. I fairly certain would could build a small mountain out of leaves. We have 8-10 maples in the front yard, and our back yard is completely surrounded by tall trees for seclusion.

Im calling the sprinkler company to winterized the sprinkler system. I have some dead shrubs that need to be pulled out. Do I doing it now, or can it wait to spring when I'm ready to replace them with a new shrub?

From brief research online it looks like we should fertilize and pull annuals out. What else?

Lawn services look pricey. What do you pay if you use one?

Thx!

[spotty_dog]

Dead plants don't care when you pull them.

This may be a bit late for fertilization. You don't want to encourage a flush of tender growth that will just get its tiny nads frozen off. A nutritious mulch might not be a bad idea though -- compost only "works" as a nutrient source when the ambient temps are warm enough for the soil systems to get busy, so it won't release more than your sleepy plants need, but even in the deep cold it can function as a bit of a blanket, protecting fragile roots and whatnot.

No idea about lawn services, but shove those leaves in plastic bags and find someplace to leave them: leaf mold!

[Ladybug]

Thx! I'll scratch the fertilizer.

[migirl]

We have about ... half-acre? We pay $35 per mowing and $45 per fertilizing.

I agree, probably late for fertilizing but definitely get those leaves up!

[OrionGrad]

We have a fairly small yard, but it's super steep. We pay $50 for total maintenance (mowing/leaf removal/fertilizing) every two weeks.

[MrsK]

How do you winterize sprinklers?

[MrsK]

Forgive me. Never had a home with sprinklers up north.

[migirl]

We've always had a service do it, basically they blow compressed air through the sprinkler heads and through the hoses to flush out any standing water that might freeze.

[ides]

I'd keep your leaves in a bin that gets air circulation or in a big pile out of the way so that it rots. Crushed leaves (if they don't blow away - maybe wet them?) are fantastic mulch for planting beds. If you don't have grass under any trees leave them there. They will break down and provide needed nutrients to the trees. Leave are awesome!

We don't have a lawn service, our yards not super huge but lawn services here seem pricey to me. Anywhere from $35+ per mowing.