The do's and don'ts of fall lawn care

Posted on:Sep 18, 2020

With the dog days of summer over and the breezy days of fall beginning to take hold, it's easy to start packing up the mower and parking your butt on the couch. However, if you want the perfect springtime turf, you better not get too comfortable because there is still plenty of work ahead. Check out these lawn care do's and don'ts before you get started to ensure you're covering all your bases this fall.

 

Do Aerate Your Lawn

A hot, stressful summer season will leave your lawn looking worse for the wear and ready for a little TLC. Aeration, like a deep tissue massage for your turf, will relieve soil compaction and counter the damage brought on from a hot, dry summer. It’ll also help create optimal lawn conditions for the fall maintenance ahead by improving permeability, water infiltration, and nutrient absorption in the root zone. 

 

Don’t Forget to Overseed

We can’t all have a picture-perfect yard every year. If you find yourself with any sparse or thin spots, overseeding will be the key to reviving your turf. Spread grass seed over any dead spots covering them evenly, ensuring seed-to-soil contact. The contact is essential for root growth, and if you aerated your lawn it should be no problem! 

After the seed is sown, lightly water to keep the soil moist while the seed sprouts. 

 

Do Fertilize in the Fall

Proactive fertilization is absolutely necessary if you want a healthy lawn in the spring. The combination of cool weather and warm soil in the fall makes it the perfect environment for the development of strong grass roots and an ideal time to fertilize. For best results, use a slow-release fertilizer and, to avoid runoff, never apply before heavy rain. Slow-release fertilizer will break down nutrients over time allowing for a healthier absorption throughout the root zone. 

 

Don’t Overfertilize

Too much of anything is bad, and too much fertilizer will almost certainly spell disaster for your lawn. Overfeeding your turf can cause the structure of the grass blades to outgrow the root system. This will make your grass grow at a faster pace than what is healthy, causing problems with hydration and nutrient supply—not to mention making you mow more than usual. Overfertilizing your lawn will bring you a full slate of problems to deal with, including root burn, poor drainage, rot, disease, and an uneven PH balance in your soil. So do your best to avoid this common lawn care mishap.  

For even more fall lawn tips, check out this post from August or visit one of our sources below!  

Sources:

https://wellmanslawncare.com/lawn-care/fall-lawn-care-dos-and-donts/

https://www.greenspherelawn.com/spring-lawn-care/the-dangers-of-over-fertilizing-your-lawn/

http://counties.agrilife.org/hardin/files/2011/05/Dos-and-Donts-of-Lawn-Fertilization.pdf