While spring and summer are the seasons during which we enjoy our gardens the most, the key to a really attractive yard is to pay attention to what needs doing all year round.

Here’s how you can get the most out of your land for the remaining 6 months of the year. It all starts by realizing that fall is a good a time as any to be enjoying the pleasures of the outdoors.

Fall is a great time to prepare your garden

The majority of us begin to neglect our gardens as the season’s change. While the nights draw in during fall, and then you have the cold winter months of winter, it is all too easy to ignore what is going on outside those rear windows.

This is a big mistake.

The weather is still mild enough for some outside TLC during September and October. Now is certainly the time to begin essential maintenance in the garden. Not only will it help you save in upfront costs, but prep work during fall will also continue to pay dividends for the rest of the year.

Furthermore, autumn plantings require less water and fertilizer.

Young plants do not have to suffer the withering heat of summer. Fall planting gives them much more time to become established ready for the spring flourish.

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Plants are cheaper to buy in the fall

Now, who doesn’t love a bargain?

Plants are very often cheaper after the summer months. Nurseries are forced to put their stock on sale in the fall. They do this to avoid storing (and caring for) excess plants over the winter.

Taking a visit to your local garden center now, and you can expect to see as much as 50% off the price of plants, grass seed, even tools.

While everyone else is thinking the gardening is over for the year, you can clean up with the budget buys.

It is also possible to get your plants for free, (no, not by taking those that are on display outside the store); the fall is a very good time to “divide” spring-flowering perennials. Day-lilies and peonies are especially tolerant to this.

Ask around, as long as your friends don’t mind you can cut a piece of your favorite specimens from their yard.

Not only is this beneficial to the original plant, but it will also help diversify the collection in your own garden.

An important factor to remember is that any planting should be in the ground at least six weeks before the first ground-freeze date in your area.

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Lay the groundwork for a healthier lawn

Weeds do not germinate in the fall. Many people fail to realize the significance of this little fact.

With the annoying interruption of weed growth out of the equation, the fall becomes an ideal time to get a new lawn started without the competition.

The weather during fall is also conducive to this.

While the months are cooler and wetter than those of summer, you have ideal weather conditions to nourish new turf.

Furthermore, your new lawn will be thick and strong enough to outcompete most weeds by the time spring comes around.

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Fertilize your beds

Fall is also a great time to feeding your garden. Doing so now can help save a substantial amount of time and money on fertilizing and watering over the longer term.

Why we hear you ask? The simple fact is, as air temperatures drop during fall, the ground (for September at least) remains warm. This in turn encourages plants to focus their energy on root growth.

Healthy roots lead to a garden that flourishes, as well as creating more robust, drought-resistant plants.

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Save money on the spring bloomers

Finally, Fall is your window of opportunity for planting wonderful spring-blooming bulbs such as daffodils, tulips, lilies, and hyacinths.

These take no time at all to do either. Buy from your local nursery, or online. Once they arrive, just dig a small hole, drop in a bulb and cover with soil, (make sure the dog isn’t around to dig it all up again, however.

Hey presto, your fall gardening activities will lead to the kind of garden that will make the neighbors jealous. Healthy and full of spring bloom once the sun has finally returned from its winter break down-under.

Image Credits: Lavander & Lovage, Pixabay