One of the reasons that I’m sure why so many people put their homes on the market during the summer months is to take advantage of how little work it takes to keep a yard looking nice in those warm months. Most yards need some weeding, watering, and a weekly lawn mowing in the warm seasons to look welcoming; the blooming flora in your yard takes care of the rest. While a well-groomed yard doesn’t just happen on its own, it is relatively easy to make your yard look welcoming even in the fall months.

One of the main elements of fall that can cause some hassle to a home owner who’s trying to sell their home during autumnal months is the falling leaves. Though they are beautiful, fallen coloured leaves can be bad for your lawn, look messy when they start to break down, and can be hazardous on walkways. Fallen leaves also tend to clog your gutters and downspouts.

When you start your leaf clean up, start from the top down so that you can clean up the mess as you make it. Start with the gutters on your house, cleaning all the leaves out so that rain can flow easily and not pour off the sides of your gutters. Next clean the walkways around your home so that the decaying leaves don’t create a slipping hazard. Finally, clean the leaves off your lawn so that the feeble rays of winter sun can reach the grass; leaves on your lawn will encourage fungal growth.

Take time to cut back or remove any dead plants from your flower or vegetable garden too; an abundance of decaying plant-life can make your yard look dreary and unkempt. Clean up the stray branches and twigs lying around the yard as well. A lot of the yard waste that you clean up can go into your compost bin, but make sure that you don’t add anything that is diseased or has seed pods that you don’t want sprouting in your compost in the spring. Don’t prune any bushes or trees at this time unless specified for that particular species; early pruning can encourage new growth in some plants which will be damaged when it gets frosty.

We all know that beautiful yards don’t just happen; to have a beautiful yard in the summer takes a lot of work in other seasons. But while a beautiful summer yard might seem ideal for selling your home, it isn’t hard to maintain your yard so that it looks inviting to buyers in the fall as well.