Fall Yard Clean-Up and Winter Prep Checklist for Blair and Cambria County

Central Pennsylvania winters are hard on lawns, beds and trees. A few hours of work between late October and the first real snow makes a big difference in how your yard looks next spring. Here's the checklist our crews follow for homes across Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Ebensburg and the surrounding towns.

1. Get the leaves off the lawn

A thick mat of leaves left over winter blocks light, traps moisture and invites snow mold, the gray or pink patches you sometimes see when the snow melts. Rake or blow leaves off the lawn once most of them are down, usually late October into mid-November here. On yards with a lot of oaks, which drop late, plan on two passes.

A light layer of leaves can be mulched into the lawn with the mower instead. If you can still see grass blades after one pass, you're fine.

2. Make the last mow a little lower

Keep mowing as long as the grass is growing. For the final cut of the season, drop the deck a notch, to around two and a half inches. Shorter grass is less likely to mat down under snow, which also helps prevent snow mold.

3. Clean out the beds

Pull out annuals, cut back perennials that turned to mush after the first frost, and clear leaves out from around shrubs. Leave ornamental grasses and sturdy seed heads standing if you like the winter look and want to feed birds. Cut those back in early spring instead.

4. Prune dead and hanging limbs before the snow

Heavy, wet snow is what brings down weak limbs onto roofs, cars and power lines. Late fall is a good time to remove dead branches and anything hanging over the house. Larger trees, or limbs near lines, are a job for a professional tree service.

5. Protect young trees and shrubs

Wrap tender evergreens like arborvitae with burlap where they take wind or road salt, and tie up multi-stem shrubs so snow doesn't split them. Keep mulch a few inches away from trunks so mice don't nest against the bark over winter.

6. Mark your driveway and walks

Put snow stakes along driveway edges, walkways and beds before the ground freezes. They save lawns, edging and paver walkways from plow and shovel damage.

7. Drain hoses and clean gutters

Disconnect and drain garden hoses and shut off outdoor spigots if your home has an inside shutoff. Clear leaves from gutters and downspouts so melting snow can drain away from your foundation instead of freezing in place.

8. Plan spring projects now

Winter is the best time to plan a new patio, retaining wall or landscaping project. Spring schedules fill up fast, and booking early gets your project done before summer. Stump grinding can often be done right through the winter as long as the ground is accessible.

Want us to handle it?

Mountain Top Mowing & Landscaping does complete fall clean-ups across Blair and Cambria County, including leaf removal, bed clean-outs, final mows and haul-away. Call (814) 935-9171 or request a free quote.