When temps start to slide, a little prep now saves a lot of headaches later. Here’s a clear, do-this-now plan to get your property buttoned up for fall and ready to roll when the snow flies, built around materials and services you can grab from Green Hills Supply.
1) Beds & Plant Health
Refresh mulch (2–3")
Top up chipped or settled areas to insulate roots, regulate moisture, and cut spring weeds. Keep mulch a few inches off trunks and stems so plants can breathe.
Compost top-dress
Spread ¼–½" of compost over perennial beds and vegetable plots for a slow, soil-first nutrient boost over winter.
Edge & fabric where it matters
Re-establish clean bed lines and lay professional-grade fabric only under rock/gravel installations (skip fabric in living beds so soil can thrive).
Cut back smart
- Remove diseased or pest-ridden foliage now (bag and trash).
- Leave sturdy seed heads (coneflower, rudbeckia) for winter interest and pollinators.
- Protect new or marginal perennials with a light mulch blanket after the ground cools.
What to pick up: hardwood or dyed mulch, compost, decorative stone, landscape fabric, aluminum edging. Green Hills carries the landscape supplies and edging you’ll need, with easy online ordering.
2) Lawn, Soil & Trees
Lawn TLC
Final mow at ~2.5–3" and remove thick leaf mats so turf doesn’t smother. Overseed thin spots early fall and top-dress with a compost/topsoil blend for good seed-to-soil contact.
Soil improvement
Sandy or tired soils benefit from a thin compost layer before freeze-up; clay soils appreciate organic matter + coarse sand for drainage in new bed builds.
Tree & shrub care
Deep-water evergreens before the ground freezes; apply a protective mulch ring (not a volcano) and stake young trees in windy sites.
What to pick up: screened topsoil, compost, sand, shredded mulch—delivered where you need it. Green Hills is set up for bulk materials delivery across Wisconsin.
3) Hardscapes, Gravel & Drainage
Stabilize paths & drives
Rake and re-top gravel or chip paths; add edging to hold lines through plow season. Touch up low spots before ice puddles form.
Drainage tune-ups
Build shallow swales with soil/stone to guide meltwater away from foundations. Extend downspouts and add splash zones with cobble or washed stone.
What to pick up: base gravel, washed stone, paver chips, edging, erosion control blankets—all available through Green Hills’ shop.
4) The Winter Readiness Plan (De-icing & Safety)
A strong plan means safer walks, less product, and less damage in spring.
Pre-season checklist
- Choose your de-icer based on temps & surfaces. Green Hills stocks rock salt, treated salt, as well as 23.3% salt brine and super sacks for high-volume users.
- Stage materials at entrances, lots, and job sites
- Anti-ice when you can (brine before storms to keep snow from bonding and reduce overall usage).
Why treated salt?
Treated salt improves low-temp performance, reduces bounce/scatter, and can cut application rates—great for tight sites and sensitive areas. Green Hills features Turbo Melt Treated Salt among its winter lineup.
Pro tip for property managers & contractors:
Create a “first-inch” playbook: who treats walks, who plows lots, material type, target application rates, and refilling locations. It prevents over-salting and call-backs.
5) Fall Cleanup & Disposal (The Right Way)
Do: keep materials separated—brush/limbs, clean fill (soil/sand/gravel/rock), and concrete kept clean.
Don’t: mix trash or contaminants into yard waste loads.
Green Hills operates a Brush & Clean Fill Dump Site with clear guidelines to keep traffic moving and contamination low. Sort before you arrive and follow on-site signage.
6) Materials Checklist (Save this)
- Mulch (2–3") for perennials, trees, and new installs
- Compost & Topsoil for top-dressing, patching, and new beds
- Gravel & Washed Stone for paths, drainage, and splash areas
- Edging & Fabric for clean lines and rock areas
- Erosion Blankets & Staples for exposed slopes
- De-icers: rock salt, treated salt (e.g., Turbo Melt), calcium blends, 23.3% brine, and super sacks for volume users.
7) Timing Roadmap
- Early–Mid September: overseed lawns, top-dress with compost; refresh mulch; edge beds; gravel touch-ups.
- Late September–October: plant bulbs; cut back problem foliage; install erosion blankets; stage de-icing materials.
- Before First Snow: calibrate spreaders; pre-fill buckets; confirm anti-icing plan; mark plow stakes along drives/walks.
How Green Hills Supply can help
- Order online or by phone/text for fast pickup or delivery (bulk and super sacks available).
- Full winter lineup including rock salt, treated salt, and brine options for homeowners, contractors, and municipalities.
- Local dump site for brush and clean fill so fall cleanup stays simple and compliant.
Ready to get started?
If you’d like, tell us your project goals (mulch refresh, drainage fix, winter safety plan), and we’ll build a quick materials list with quantities—so you can load once and be done. Or call/text (262) 345-4001 and we’ll set you up with the right product and delivery window.
