Outdoor Autumn Chores at My Farm
Now that the days are getting colder, and all the trees are dropping their leaves, my outdoor grounds crew is busy with fall cleanup. I am hosting several gatherings at my home this season, so it is “all hands on deck" to get the farm in tip-top shape.
To stay organized during seasonal transitions, I create very detailed lists of all that needs to be done. This week’s projects include pruning the boxwood, blowing and collecting the many leaves, covering all the ornamental urns with burlap, plantings spring-blooming bulbs and so much more. So far, this autumn has been quite mild here in the Northeast. The weather has allowed us ample time to ready the farm for the cold season ahead.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- It is so beautiful this time of year when all the deciduous trees show their stunning autumn colors before dropping their leaves. Here at my farm, leaf blowing is now in full swing.
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- As colder weather approaches and sunlight decreases, these trees seal the spots where the leaves are attached – this process is what causes them to change color and fall to the ground.
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- It is very important to remove the leaves after they fall in order to maintain a healthy and attractive lawn and garden. A thick or matted layer of fallen leaves casts excessive shade over the ground below and can prevent adequate sun, nutrients, and water from reaching grass and other plantings.
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- Here is Dawa blowing leaves at the edge of my Japanese maple woodland. Now that we’ve had some frost, the Japanese maples are starting to turn red – I will share photos of these gorgeous specimens in an upcoming blog.
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- Here is Pete with the walk-behind gas leaf blower. This helps to move the leaves into one central location.
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- Leaf blowers are the most effective for gathering the bulk of leaves into large piles. With so many trees at my farm, this process takes a couple of weeks to complete.
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- Pete then directs the leaves to the opening of this vacuum tube connected to the dump truck. The leaves are taken to the compost area, where they will decompose and get used again as mulch next year.
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- This area looks so different once the leaves are removed.
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- Meanwhile, Gavin is at the pergola cutting the clematis vines off the stakes. I like to cut them down in the fall and then protect the base with mulch.
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- We cut ours to about six inches from the ground.
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- This long pergola will be cleaned of all the old plants and prepared for planting spring-blooming bulbs. This year, we will add more camassia and alliums to this garden bed.
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- Of course, sitting nearby is one of several Martha Stewart Multipurpose Heavy Duty Totes – this one in slate. These totes come in handy for so many things around the farm – everyone loves them. They are from my collection on QVC. https://qvc.co/33kywdS
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- All the doormats are collected, cleaned and stored away until next year. For years, I’ve gotten my mats from Cape Cod Doormats in Hyannis, Massachusetts. They’ve been featured in my “Living” magazine and on my web site. These mats are extremely durable, attractive, and come in both standard and custom-fit sizes – plus, they’re American made.
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- Chhewang is pruning all the boxwood around the farm. Introduced to America in 1652, members of the genus Buxus include about 30 species and 160 cultivars. Boxwood, like most shrubs, needs periodic trimming to promote new growth and clean out dead or twisted branches that can be harmful to the bush or prevent proper air circulation.
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- Boxwood is easy to grow and its compact evergreen leaves add texture and form to the garden. I have a lot of boxwood – both American and European varieties. To maintain them, I started to use TopBuxus Restore and Protect Health Mix – it has done wonders to keep my boxwood looking lush and green. It’s available on Amazon. https://topbuxus.com/en/
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- Chhewang uses Japanese hand shears to do the job. It takes several weeks to trim all the boxwood, but it is well worth all the effort to keep them healthy.
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- After every rainstorm, the outdoor grounds crew picks up all the fallen branches around the farm and piles them up neatly along the edge of the carriage road. These branches fell after the last storm hit the area. They will soon be put through the chipper and spread over the beds.
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- Here’s Ryan moving another fallen branch in the woodland.
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- And the “burlapping” has begun. Here’s Chhiring wrapping one of the large garden containers in my stable courtyard.
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- These urns are now well-protected for winter.
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- Fall is such a gorgeous time of year. This is one of my allees. Lindens are planted here on both sides along the paddock fence from my corn crib to the chicken coops.
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- In the vegetable greenhouse, Ryan fertilizes all the beds in preparation for winter planting. Soon, we will plant our first indoor crops for the season, so I always have fresh homegrown vegetables to enjoy.
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- The bald cypress trees are changing so beautifully. Although many conifers are evergreen, bald cypress trees are deciduous conifers that shed their needle-like leaves in the fall. In fact, they get the name “bald” cypress because they drop their leaves early in the season. Their fall colors include tan, cinnamon, and fiery orange.
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- And here is a photo I captured of a Cooper’s Hawk enjoying the autumn views from the fence in front of my Winter House. These hawks are medium-sized with broad, rounded wings and a long tail. What autumn chores are you doing? Share them in the comments section below.
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