Fall Lawn Care

If you put in the time and effort to keep your lawn healthy over the summer, you’ll want to ensure that the hard work doesn’t go to waste during the cooler months. Below are a few tips for fall lawn maintenance and preparing for cooler weather.

Fertilize – Feeding in fall fuels leaf blade development, which results in more food stored in grass roots.

Aerating – Heavily trafficked lawns can suffer from soil compaction. An aerator will release small plugs of soil allowing increased movement of water, nutrients, and soil.

Raise Mower Blades – Let grass grow taller in the fall (1 ½ to 2 ½ inches) to ensure its ability to store nutrients through the winter.

Rake Leaves – Grass left covered by leaves for too long is susceptible to damage, particularly if the blades are actively growing. Healthy lawns need sunlight to store food reserves in the roots.

Eliminate Weeds – Dealing with weeds now prevents their seeds from sprouting during this prime growing time.

Stay off Wet Grass – If El Niño does come through, we’re in for a wet winter. Stay off wet lawns to avoid further compacting soil.

Add Seed to Thicken Grass  – Fill in bare or thinning patches with fresh seed and water lightly.