Cooler temperatures are upon us and summer is officially over. While you might think the temperature change is a good indication that you can take a break from lawn care until the spring, think again. Contrary to popular belief, fall is a great time to care for your lawn.
Many homeowners tend to ignore their lawn once they experience cooler weather. They also notice slower-growing grass and assume it requires less treatment. But the opposite is true. In preparation for winter—and in an effort to recuperate from our extremely hot temperatures—your lawn is absorbing energy, moisture, and nutrients for the months to come. Whether you contact a company for lawn restoration services or choose the lawn restoration DIY route, investing time in your lawn during the fall will pay dividends all year long.
Read our tips below to learn simple things you can do to keep your yard happy and healthy.
Let Your Grass Breathe
Summer’s warm temperatures can be extremely damaging to your lawn. As such, you’ll want to give your grass as much oxygen possible. This process, called aeration, involves getting oxygen to your lawn’s roots. This should be the first step in your lawn restoration efforts. Keep in mind that if you have applied seed or sod in the past year, you’ll want to postpone aeration, as roots are still getting established.
Maximize the benefit of aeration by preparing your soil with a thorough watering. Then, use a core aerator – available for rental at hardware stores – to remove plugs (or “core”) from throughout your lawn. You can either choose to leave these pieces of soil on your lawn to decompose, or you can gather them and place them into your compost bin.
Just Keep Mowing
Even though your grass might be growing at a slower pace during the fall months, it’s important to keep watering and mowing your lawn during the colder months. Each time you mow, you’ll want to drop the mower’s blade in an effort to appropriately trim the grass.
Most grass continues to grow through mid-December. So for your last mow of the season, drop the blade to its lowest setting. Doing so lets in more sunlight and helps avoid blades from turning brown.
Fertilize, Fertilize, Fertilize
Fall is the ideal time of year to fertilize your grass. Even though grass grows more slowly in cooler months, grass roots continue to grow rapidly. Applying fertilizer in the fall prepares the grass for spring. The fertilizer enables the grass to grow deep roots before the winter season begins; deeper roots are better able to keep nutrients in reserve throughout the coldest months.
Apply the fertilizer towards the latter part of fall. Spread dry fertilizer to all grassy areas and be sure to not miss any spots. For best results, consider using a walk-behind drop spreader. The last thing you want is a patchy lawn come spring.
Remove the Weeds
Fall is also the perfect time to treat weeds. Treating your lawn in the fall can help eliminate both annual and perennial weeds, and can help combat fall-germinating weeds.
A healthy lawn and a weed-free lawn often go hand in hand. If your lawn is healthy, weeds will have a hard time growing and spreading. However, there’s still a chance for a few weeds to make an appearance. To combat those sneaky weeds, use a weed control product only when necessary. Doing so will help gain maximum results and a weed-free lawn.
If you haven’t paid attention to your lawn this fall, fear not: you still have time. In warm areas, it’s best to wait until the latter part of fall to begin weeding and treating your lawn. Late October and November, when it’s usually quite pleasant outdoors, are ideal.
Prepare for Winter
Texas residents are lucky. While northern states endure cold, frigid winters, our climate is comparatively easy. Even so, the colder months we do have can be harmful to your lawn. To ensure your lawn is healthy and strong, you’ll need to provide it with the proper care and support it requires. That’s where ABC Home & Commercial Services can help.
Our specialist will observe, identify, and develop a plan to best help your yard. Whether it’s weeding, fertilizing, or mowing your lawn, we’re here to help. Contact our team today to learn just how we can be of service. We want to ensure your lawn is in tip-top shape all year round.