Fall signals the end of lawn care season but that does not mean you should stop too soon! Use this time to groom your lawn for beautiful growth next spring. Now is a critical time to address any issues that you may have had over the summer and prepare for next year.
Here are six things to keep doing for a beautiful yard next year:
- Keep the Mower Running
Grass does not stop growing until it frosts over in winter. Continue cutting your grass at its normal height until it stops growing. After your last mow of the season, winterize your mower. This includes sharpening the blades, changing the oil and spark plugs, inspecting the mower for damage, and cleaning the air filter.
- Keep the Water Flowing
Unlike summer rain, autumn rain results in less evaporation, providing plenty of natural moisture for the grass to sustain itself. However, you should still pay attention to how much water your grass is getting with a rain gauge. If your lawn is not getting one inch or more of moisture per week, you should water it. Bobvilla.com has 7 Things Your Lawn May Be Trying to Tell You to help you determine if your lawn is getting too much or too little water.
- Keep the Falling Leaves at Bay
Falling leaves are a great material for leaf piles to jump in but when they fall on your lawn, they block out sunlight, prevent plants from making food, and lead to lawn fungi. The best way to remove fall leaves is by raking because a leaf blower or vacuum does not remove built up thatch. Thatch is a loose, intermingled organic layer of dead and living shoots, stems, and roots that develops between the zone of green vegetation and the soil surface. Thatch build up begins when turf produces organic debris faster than it can be broken down.
Thespruce.com offers more information on raking with Is It Necessary to Rake Leaves off the Lawn?
- Keep Passageways Open
Now is the time to consider aeration. Your lawn has probably suffered from some degree of soil compaction and heat stress over the summer months. These two problems often cause the brown or thinned grass you may have experienced last season. Aeration is the process of removing soil plugs from a yard in order to free up passageways for nutrients to reach the grassroots. Aerating in the fall will help your lawn be green and healthy for the next year.
- Keep the Grass Fed
Fall is the most important time of year to fertilize for a healthy lawn. If you want your lawn to look better and be healthier, fertilize in the fall and apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. This process will give your lawn plenty of nutrients to get it through the winter and help the grass grow stronger in spring. If you decide to aerate in the fall, make sure you fertilize soon afterward in order to ensure that the nutrients will reach deeper into the soil.
Bhg.com says The Best Fertilizers for Your Grass Are Actually Organic-And These 8 Are Our Favorites.
- Keep Patches Seeded
Many patches of lawn can die during the summertime. Reseed those areas with the right grasses. Keep in mind, however, that seeds that do not touch the soil will not germinate, and it can be difficult to cover an area of grass thoroughly. Consider using a professional for power seeding. Power seeding is the process in which seeds are sewn into the ground.
The experts at Patera Landscaping can schedule your fall lawn maintenance to ensure a beautiful yard awaits you next year. Contact us today!