The fall season is an important time for your lawn to repair from the hot summer months and replenish before the cold dormancy of winter sets in. Here are some things to consider regarding your lawn this season:
#1 - RAKE THOSE LEAVES. Do a thorough raking of leaves and sticks from your lawn will prevent the heavy, wet foliage from suffocating the turf. Dark, moist environments are breeding grounds for disease. You will want to pay particular attention to leaves if you’ve seeded the lawn. A heavy cover of leaves will block sunlight preventing new grass seeds from germinating.
#2 - FEED YOUR LAWN. Think of fall fertilization as refuelling your lawn after a long, hot summer. Fall fertilization will help maintain your lawn’s root health and replenish nutrients that were expended in summer months. Fall feedings should be timed when plants are still absorbing nutrients, so don’t wait too long.
#3 - AERATION & OVERSEEDING - A summer’s worth of thatch build-up and foot traffic can compact soil, which cuts off oxygen and nutrient supply to the roots. Aerating in the fall loosens soil and literally airs out the earth. The soil plugs that are removed can be left on the lawn, as they will break down and provide additional nutrients to your lawn. Balding turf, matted-down grass, sparse new growth, pools of water and tough ground are signs you need to aerate. Overseeding immediately following aeration is always highly recommended because the holes left behind by the aerator provide thousands of entry points for new grass to germinate to fill in those trouble spots.
#4 - MOW LOW. Make the last mowing of the season a shorter cut since you’ll retire lawn equipment until spring comes around again. Reducing the height to a shorter cut for that last mowing will reduce the amount of sensitive grass blade service that is exposed to the harsh winter conditions.
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