Fall on the west side comes fast. One week the maples are turning, the next there's a six-inch mat of wet leaves on the lawn and the rain has set in for the season. Leaves left on grass over an Oregon winter smother it, invite moss, and leave bare patches that take all spring to fill.
Start with the trees. Trim limbs hanging over the roof and gutters before the November wind does it for you, and remove any deadwood that could come down in a storm. Chip or haul the branches rather than piling them, since brush piles become rodent housing by December.
Next, the beds. Cut back spent perennials, pull the summer weeds before they drop seed, and top up bark to the two-to-three-inch mark so roots are insulated. This is also the best planting window of the year for trees and shrubs; the soil is still warm, the rain does the watering, and roots establish before summer.
Then the lawn. Rake or blow leaves off completely, mow one last time at a slightly lower height, and if the lawn has thin spots, overseed now while the ground is moist. Finish by blowing out gutters, draining and winterizing the irrigation system, and clearing walks and patios so moss doesn't get a head start. We do all of this in a single visit across Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and the surrounding towns.