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Fall Garden & Yard Prep
Fall Garden & Yard Prep: Setting Your Home Up for Success
Early fall warm weather days often tempt us to keep our gardens going just a little longer, but late September through October is the prime time to prepare your yard for the colder months ahead. Think of it as “winterizing” your home’s curb appeal—a little work now means a smoother, fresher start come spring.
Just like a home needs the right foundation to thrive, your garden and landscape need a strong send-off before winter arrives. Here are a few smart (and surprisingly simple) steps every homeowner should take:
1. Say Goodbye to Summer Veggies
As much as we want those last tomatoes to ripen on the vine, it’s time to let go. Pull spent veggies like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers, and add them to your compost. Still have green tomatoes? Don’t toss them! You can ripen them indoors by placing them in a paper bag or box.
2. Care for Perennials
Healthy perennials can be left standing; they’ll catch snow and add some winter charm. However, if there are any plants that show disease, they should be removed now to prevent problems next year.
3. Hydrate Before Hibernate
Trees, shrubs, perennials, and even lawns benefit from a good soak before the freeze. A well-watered root system means a healthier comeback in spring.
4. Empty Containers
Ceramic, terra cotta, and clay pots don’t do well in freezing temps. Clean, dry, and store them to prevent cracking.
5. Clean & Store Tools
Wash your garden tools, sharpen blades, and lightly oil metal surfaces to keep rust away. Your future self will thank you when spring planting rolls around. If you accidently left one out and it now has some rust, esteemed Minnesota gardener and writer Mary Lahr Schier has a tip for you. Discover her secret in her article by clicking here.
6. Manage the Leaves
A light layer of chopped leaves can be good mulch, but too many leaves left on your lawn may cause snow mold and damage your grass. Rake or mulch as needed. Keep aside some leaves to use as mulch after the soil freezes.
Why It Matters for Homeowners
Not only does fall yard prep make spring easier, but it also protects your landscaping investment, boosts curb appeal, and helps your home shine year-round. Whether you are thinking of selling next season or just want to love the home you are in, small steps now add long-term value.
So, grab your rake, pull on your cozy sweater, and show your home a little autumn TLC—it’ll pay off in more ways than one!
If you are thinking about selling next season now is the best time to connect with a realtor to help guide you every step of the way, feel free to connect with us. Find our contact details here.
Fall Season: Apple Pie Recipe
Fall has finally arrived!
Many people have their own way of celebrating the changes of the season, whether it be the pumpkin spice latte in place of their usual, the apple cider wax melts in their burners or the purchase of the burnt orange coats and warm fussy socks. For us… one of our all-time favorite ways of celebrating is with the smell of warm apple pie filling our homes with mouths nearly drooling till the vanilla ice cream is plopped on top and served.
…and we would like to share that experience with you.
Don’t have a recipe of your own? Give this quick and easy one a try. It will not disappoint.
Pre: 30 Min
Cook: 1 Hour
Servings: 8
Makes: a 9-inch pie
INGREDIENTS:
_ 7-8 Granny Smith Apples
_ 1/2 C unsalted butter
_ 3 TB all purpose flour
_ 1/2 C white sugar
_ 1/2 C packed brown sugar
_1/4 C of water
_ 1 thawed 9-in double crust pie pastry
INSTRUCTIONS:
_ Peel and core apples. Slice into thin strips and set aside.
_Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F (220 C).
_Press one pastry into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Roll out the remaining pastry and cut into thin strips to make the lattice topping.
_ In a pan melt butter over medium heat. Once melted add add flour to form a paste. Cook about 2 minutes until fragrant.
_ Add both sugars and water to the paste and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 3 to 5 minutes then remove from heat.
_ Meanwhile place apple slices into the pie crust pie creating a mound.
_Pour the sugar paste over the top of the apple slices reserve a bit to brush your lattice topping with
_Using the remaining pie crust you cut into strips create a lattice topping and brush with remaining sugar mixture.
_ Bake in your preheated oven for 15 minutes. Then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 C) and continue baking until apples are soft roughly 35 to 45 minutes.
TOP WITH:
_ Vanilla Ice cream
_Serve slightly warm
_ Tag us on Instagram @Windermere_Whidbey_Island
_Enjoy
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Squash
It is that time of year when the fruits of our labors begin filling up not only our dinner plates but also become an integral part of beautifying the spaces around us. You guessed it, we are talking about SQUASH.
If you are anything like some of these green thumb agents, you have spent the past several months pouring your heart and soul into your garden prepping to produce these beautiful and tasty gems. But it is quite possible that you now have so many you do not know what to do with them. If that is the case keep reading for places you can donate your extras…. like my office.
Perhaps you are more like those of us that take advantage of the local Farm to Table programs our local farm community has to offer. You may have begun to receive these tasty treats in your special boxes. Keep reading to discover one of my favorite recipes.
BUT….maybe your most like me and you are… “Growing them…well… in the grocery store”. Let’s be honest autumn is my favorite time of year, but I wasn’t blessed with a green thumb. I am more like a big kid eagerly waiting for Shermans Farm to open so I can enjoy the full experience of finding the perfect squash for tonight’s dinner. I like sipping my warm cup of cider while riding on the tractor taking in the beautiful Whidbey farm views and snapping pictures of my kids next to the biggest pumpkins they can find.
Regardless of who you are, there is one thing we all have in common this season. We will all come into contact with SQUASH!
The majority of people will likely only use them as decorations, and that is ok. There is no denying these power-packed veggies are beautiful and studies show that sprucing up the space around you will make you feel happier. So, first things first…
Let’s Get Crafty:
CENTERPIECE
It can take as little or as much creativity as you desire. Place a variety of squash together with some leaves, flowers, candles, or acorns to spruce up your gathering space. For more inspiration follow one of our favorites local to our area: Erin Benzakein, founder of Floret. Floret is a Skagit Valley family-owned farm and seed company and New York Times Best Selling Author of A Year in Flowers for tutorials on arrangements.
OVERSIZED ACORN WITH ACORN SQUASH
Supplies you will need:
- Hot Glue Gun
- Hot Glue
- Twine
- Acorn Squash
Begin by placing a dab of glue at the top of your squash. Make a loop in the twine and attach the top of your squash. Place glue around the top ¼ of the squash and being laying your twine in a circular motion starting at the stem and continuing down to a ¼ of the squash, carefully laying each layer of twine up against the last.
For the Tummy:
Most importantly, squash provides a plethora of nutrients for our bodies. It is quite literally called a power-pack veggie. They are high in Vitamin A, B6, and C, folate, magnesium, fiber, riboflavin, phosphorus, and potassium.
The best thing about squash is that there are so many ways to eat it. I love it SO MUCH I am attaching one of my simple favorites.
BAKED ACORN SQUASH WITH BUTTER & BROWN SUGAR
Serves: 2-4 | Preparation: 10min | Cooking: 1 HR 15 min
Ingredients:
- 1 Acorn squash
- 1 Tbsp Butter
- 2 Tbsp Brown Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Maple Syrup
- Dash of Salt
DOWNLOAD THE FULL RECIPE CARD HERE!
Uplift the Community with Your Extras:
With all joking aside, if you have been blessed with having too much squash this year, the North Whidbey Help House in Oak Harbor, and Good Cheer Food Bank in Langley would love to have your donations.
Stay blessed. Have a favorite squash recipe or idea you want to share? Let us know in the comments below.
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