A Bedford Park Fall Cleanup

Putting the Backyard Pool Garden "to Rest"

A handful of my clients have outdoor pools and I find it's always a bit tricky working around them. It wouldn't be a disaster falling in by accident (I can swim) when it's hot and sticky in August but during a November fall cleanup, exposure to these standing pockets of water is...well, gross, as some pictures below will suggest.

The homeowner of this Bedford Park property in mid-north Toronto hires me in the spring and fall to weed, prune, rake leaves, etc. It's a rental property so the tenants, as usual, do nothing when it comes to maintaining the outside and when I return after a five month hiatus, there's usually a lot of pruning and weeding required.

Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Backyard Before

I usually leave ornamental grasses like this group of Maiden Grass (Miscanthus) alone over winter as they look nice; however, since the client asked me to cut them down and the tenants are oblivious, I reduced them to stubs. I suggest you don't do this for your own garden as these hardy grasses do double duty over winter.

Unless you like the look below...

Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Backyard After 

Bedford Park Toronto Fall Cleanup Backyard Before

This area around the flagstone path connecting the house side and backyard patio is always infested with weeds. Either I deal with them now or next spring so I dug them out before they really take hold.

Bedford Park Toronto Fall Cleanup Backyard After 

Fall Cleanup Bedford Park Backyard Before 

Fall Cleanup Bedford Park Backyard After 

Fall Cleanup Bedford Park Backyard Before 

Standing water enriched by decomposing leaves isn't very attractive as the pictures above and below show. I had to work carefully in that three foot wide bed at the base of the fence. Falling into that cold and dirty water when the air temperature is hovering around zero Celsius (32 F) wasn't part of the fall cleanup!

Fall Cleanup Bedford Park Backyard After 

Toronto Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Backyard Before

Toronto Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Backyard After 

I usually prune the spireas, hydrangeas and peonies "hard" every fall to control their size in this narrow strip of a garden bed.

Toronto Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Backyard Before 

Toronto Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Backyard After 

And a bit of work in the front garden bed and driveway...

Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Front Yard Before

Lots of hostas to take down and, yes, Halloween was the night before I visited this property!

Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Front Yard After 

Fall Cleanup Bedford Park Front Yard Before 

Fall Cleanup Bedford Park Front Yard After 

Fall Cleanup Bedford Park Front Yard Before 

Fall Cleanup Bedford Park Front Yard After 

In case you're wondering, those paper bags in the upper left corner of the picture above hold all the leaves, twigs, etc. I collected and will be picked up by the City every two weeks until December for municipal composting. 

Toronto Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Front Before 

Toronto Bedford Park Fall Cleanup Front After 

More fall cleanups to come, lucky you!