While you may be taking a welcome respite from your summertime lawn-care regimen, fall is actually a critical time for maintenance in order to ensure a healthy landscape come next spring and summer.

According to the experts at the TurfMutt Foundation, what you do now will set the tone for what your yard will look like and how healthy it will be next spring. Here are just a few fall maintenance projects to take care of before the first frost, along with a couple of suggestions to continue enjoying your yard as temperatures drop.

1. Create a fall yard work to-do list. As long as your grass is growing, keep mowing. Other important to-dos include aerating your lawn, overseeding, cleaning out flower beds, trimming back perennials, and adding a fresh layer of mulch around trees and shrubs to protect them during the winter months.
    
2. Feed your lawn. When autumn leaves fall, consider mulching them with your lawnmower instead of raking and disposing of them. This will not only keep yard waste out of the local landfill, it also adds organic matter back into the soil.
    
3. Plant bulbs. Fall is an ideal time to plant many spring flower bulbs. Select those that will thrive in your region by checking out the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. By choosing the right plants for your climate and lifestyle, you'll be rewarded with a beautiful and purposeful green space your entire family will enjoy year-round.
    
4. Embrace outdoor living (and working). In many areas of the country, fall means a respite from scorching temperatures and an opportunity to really embrace outdoor living. Fall allows families to transition even more everyday activities like dining, studying, working and relaxing into their outdoor living area.
    
5. Personalize leaf-peeping season. No need to fight the crowds to enjoy the fall foliage if you plant trees that change color. Or you can experience the glory of fall by taking a family walk to a neighborhood park or natural area.