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| Extend the beauty of your lawn and prepare it for lush spring growth next year. |
Everything seems to slow down a little at the end of summer, even the demands of caring for the lawn and garden. But the beginning of all doesn’t mean the end of lawn care. By following a few simple guidelines you can extend the beauty of your lawn and prepare it for lush spring growth next year.
Keep It Tidy
For the last two mows of the year, lower the mower’s blade to the lowest setting. A short lawn helps prevent browning during the winter because there’s less grass leaf to die and more sunlight hitting the plant's crown. But always remember not to trim more than one-third from the lawn at a time. Lower the cutting blade gradually if needed to maintain the proper length.
Raking fall leaves is an important part of fall lawn care. A common mistake is to wait until all the leaves have fallen before tackling the job. When rain or morning dew wets the leaves, the result is a heavy rotting mat that keeps out sunlight and air while keeping in nasty fungal diseases that can weaken grass roots. Whether you prefer raking or using a lawnmower collection bag, keeping the lawn free of leaves and other debris helps ensure better health overall.
Aerating enhances the amounts of water, oxygen, and fertilizer that reaches the roots--all of which is essential to keep the lawn fed during its dormant season. A simple aerating hand tool or hand-push model works well for small yards, but for larger landscapes consider renting a gas-powered model to save time and energy.
Fill and Feed
Summer is hard on lawns, and bare spots often show the heavy wear of summer fun. Fill in bald spots with an all-in-one repair mixture by first raking up loose soil in the bald patch and spreading a thick layer of the seed mixture over it. Keep the patch evenly moist for the next few weeks and your lawn will look full again when spring comes.
Fall is also an ideal time for laying down fertilizer. Cool weather inhibits the growth of grass leaves, but roots and rhizomes continue to grow. Fertilizing now provides a reserve of healthy nutrients that will benefit the unseen parts of the lawn during dormancy.
Don’t forget that cold nights and chilly autumn winds can actually dry out the lawn. Though fall means less watering, it does not mean you should stop watering. A lawn that starts the winter season already dehydrated is more likely to suffer winter damage and start the spring season weakened. Taking care of these simple fall lawn maintenance chores will still leave you plenty of time to enjoy the slower pace of autumn and you'll spend less time trying to repair the damage of neglect when spring rolls around again.
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