Home Buyers Virginia: When you plan to put your house or investment property up for sale, you will need to keep it looking its best. Fall and winter can be a challenge because that’s when all those beautiful summer plants and flowers start to die back. This is not a pretty sight. There are some things you can do to minimize the effect and keep the outdoor areas looking good. This is important, too, because there is a possibility that you will not have sold the property when spring comes around. Hopefully this is just a precaution and the new owners will be the ones enjoying the garden in the spring.

Tending to the garden’s needs for fall and winter will make your work easier come springtime. You can even plan to plant some great bulb displays and new trees. Fall is one of the best times of year to purchase bushes or trees. The roots will spend the winter establishing themselves firmly and will be ready to blossom in the spring. Some trees that should be planted in the fall are heathers and evergreens.

In the flower beds, clear out any remaining dead debris from your annuals. Prepare the beds to be used again in the spring. You can plant bulbs at this time. Dig a hole 12” in diameter in which you’ll plant a dozen bulbs. Don’t plant them touching, but they can all be placed in the same hole. This will make for a beautiful burst of color come spring.

Perennials may still be good for next year, but now is the time to thin them out and divide them if they are overcrowded. If you’d like more perennials, drop seeds in the beds at this time. The seedlings will come in the spring at which time you can thin them and replant them where you want them.For some colorful displays to last through the fall, you can plant fall mums in shades of fall colors. For more vegetables, plant flowering kale. Cabbage does well in the fall, too. If you have a vegetable garden, be sure to pick everything that’s left and process it. Clean up the debris and dead branches to make pruning easier later and to make it look tidier now.

The lawn can be kept healthy by raking leaf and grass debris to minimize moisture mold growth. Find bare spaces and overseed there. If your lawn needs to be thatched, this is the best time to do it. Then give it some fertilizer and let it rest for the winter.