Summer is beginning to wind down, and with many kids back in school or online learning, it's easy to tell that fall will soon be here. You might think that the hard days of summer lawn care are over, when you had to mow and water and weed constantly to stay ahead of it.
Even though your grass may be going dormant for the winter, you can do a lot of work in the fall to make sure your lawn grows back beautifully in the spring. Take a look at a few ways you can continue to care for your lawn as fall approaches.
Don't Stop Mowing
If you leave your grass too long, when frost hits it will be susceptible to matting and molding, which will cause problems in the spring. Don't cut it too short either, though, or you'll damage the root system and you may have to reseed when winter is over. Cut it shorter than you did over the summer, but leave an inch or two of height.
Rake or Mulch Leaves
Autumn leaves are one of the beautiful parts of the season — but they can spell disaster for your grass. If your yard has a lot of trees or large bushes, make sure that the leaves don't allow mold to build up or block the grass from sunlight. You may be tempted to let this slide, but you should try to rake or mulch at least once a week.
Aerate the Soil
After all the outdoor time that comes with summer, your lawn probably has gotten packed pretty tightly, and may have sustained some heat strain. Aerate the soil by removing small plugs of dirt, which will give the rest of the soil some room to breathe. Now your grass will more readily accept water, fertilizer, and other forms of nutrients that it needs to grow.
Now Is the Time to Fertilize
Fall is one of the most important times to fertilize your lawn. Once frost hits and the grass goes into hibernation, it won't be receiving any more nutrients, so it needs a lot of fertilizer to make sure it pulls through. Fertilize at least once to ensure a healthy lawn in the spring. Make sure you choose a fertilizer rich in nitrogen since the grass will not have as much air as it does the rest of the year.
Keep an Eye on Water
Fall usually means more rain than summer, but your grass needs water even if the ecosystem doesn't cooperate. Keep a rain gauge and make sure your grass gets at least an inch of moisture a week — if not, you'll need to supplement the rain to keep your grass healthy.
Spruce Up Bare Patches
Fall can be one of the best times for seeding your lawn or putting down sod to cover bare spots. Seed and sod won't do well in the heat of summer, but in the cooler, more moist fall weather, they have a better chance to thrive. Just be sure you keep your new seed or sod moist until it has a chance to germinate and settle in.
Schedule Carefully
Predicting the way the seasons change may prove to be a challenge but one that you must embrace if you plan to keep your yard healthy. Keep your yard work to a tight schedule to avoid some problems. For instance, if you aerate too close to the heat of summer, you will dry your lawn rather than give it room to breathe; alternatively, if you seed too close to winter, your grass will likely be too weak to withstand the weather.
Giving your lawn proper attention may be hard work, but the results will be worthwhile. Ready to give your lawn a boost?
Contact
Novasack Turf Farm today to start your sod and turf journey.
