If you went outside before 7 in the morning any day last week you realized quickly summer is long gone.

It has been more than five months since we had a mid-50 degree mornings. This week I want to address some calls about late fall and winter concerns, primarily with lawn and home landscaping.

Q: How can I increase the beauty around my house, my yard is bare?

A: One of the greatest assets Natchez has, which is overlooked, is the beautiful trees surrounding our wonderful city. Try for just a minute to imagine downtown Natchez with no trees? It would not be the same.

One of the easiest ways to add value and aesthetics to a home is plants. We commonly talk about flower beds and gardens, but think even bigger. There are hundreds of trees that are suitable around home sites to provide everything from shade, borders, barriers, wildlife habitats, and the list goes on. An even better benefit is in the future they all add value to your home. For example, can you put a price value on the oaks, cedars, and many historical trees around many of our antebellum homes?

Here is the good news. At 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 22, the Extension Service will be hosting an urban forestry workshop at the downtown community center. This is a free workshop that will cover topics like, selecting the right tree for the right place, trees for maximum benefits, maintenance, storm preparedness, caring for trees after a storm, and more.

I would strongly recommend this workshop for homeowners, developers or anyone that has in interest in beautifying an existing site, home or our city. As always it is free to the public, but please RSVP to the Adams County Extension office at 601-445-8201.

Q: How can I help keep my yard green all winter long?

A: There is nothing more attractive than a pretty, well-manicured lawn in the middle of winter when all your neighbors’ lawns are brown. As our warm season turf species slowly go into the dormant stages a transition occurs in our lawn and lifestyle. For many of us this is a good transition as mowing and maintenance chores begin to decline.

However for those of you homeowners that are committed to having that beautiful lawn year round and do not mind the additional financial obligations along with maintenance needs then planting rye grass will certainly allow you to stay a step ahead.

By planting rye grass now, you can continue to enjoy a lush green lawn well into next spring. However keep in mind mowing, watering, fertilizing, and all current lawn care needs that are dreadful in the summer will need to be continued. In addition, planting rye grass will also delay your warm season grasses from reemerging early in the spring which will make your permanent lawn slower in reaching its spring growth spurt.

Therefore, for the average homeowner I would recommend you just be thankful for the lawn you have and enjoy maintaining it during the spring and summer and take the maintenance vacation when you can. If you miss mowing you can always make a few cuttings throughout the winter to help keep your lawn looking neat even in the colder months.

David Carter is the director of the Adams County Extension Service. He can be reached at 601-445-8201.