Modern’s 9 Must-Dos for Fall Clean Up

Summer has faded, fall has arrived. Tackle Modern’s must-dos for fall clean up between football games and family trips to the apple orchard.

Fertilize Your Lawn
A long, hot summer makes your lawn look and feel defeated. Early fall is the perfect time to fertilize to rebuild its roots. It’s also the perfect time to take on weeds as you prepare for spring. Use this fertilizer spreader to make the job quick and feed your grass one last time before the snow falls.

Favorite Products: Scotts WinterGuard Fall Weed & Feed Winterizer | Scotts Turf Builder WinterGuard Fall Lawn Feed
Take Care of Leaves
Rak ‘em or mulch ‘em. Raking is self explanatory, but make sure you have a good rake to get the job done efficiently. Mulching involves using your lawn mower to turn fallen leaves into dime-sized pieces. Mulching returns nutrients to your lawn and, when done before laying your last fall fertilizer, helps speed up the fertilization process.

Favorite Product: Best Garden Poly Leaf Rake
Mulch Around Perennials
It’s beneficial to spread mulch around perennials during the fall to insulate them during the colder months. Mulch can also keep hungry pests away.

Favorite Product: Scotts Mulch, available in multiple colors.
Clean Your Gutters
Clogged gutters cause rain and snow/ice to build up and create interior and exterior damage to your home. Our team recommends cleaning your gutters twice a year, and fall is the perfect time.

Favorite Product: Do It Best Grip Latex Coated Gloves
Mow Your Lawn Shorter
Shorten the length of your grass during the fall months to make it grow back healthier and lusher in the springtime. But don’t cut it too short. A good rule of thumb is to mow lawns 1-2 inches shorter than usual.
Prep Your Lawn Tools for Winter
Prep your yard tools for winter hibernation. Sharpen your blades at Modern, give garden tools a good cleaning, and follow instructions to winterize your mower.

Call us or stop in to discuss blade sharpening.
Cover Your AC Unit
If your AC unit requires a cover, wipe down or spray off your unit with a garden hose before covering. Do this to your grill too!
Clean Your Carpets
Your carpets could use a good cleaning after the summer season, and we have the Rug Doctor carpet cleaners and products you need to get the job done at a reasonable price. You can rent these products at Modern.
One Last Walkaround
Walk around your home – both inside and outside – one last time to look for any issues that may be exasperated due to winter weather. Cracks in windows or siding? Missing shingles? Other?

Enjoy the best of fall while checking off your fall clean up to-dos. If you run into issues or questions, please call: 616-241-2655! Join our mailing list to stay up to date with the latest news from our team. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more regular updates.