The leaves are starting to change colors and it's beginning to get a little chilly outside. It's that time of year again when the grass on your lawn might not be getting enough light or water to stay healthy. But don't worry! This blog post will provide you with all the information you need about fall lawn care so you can keep your yard looking good until it's time for winter.

Preparing Your Lawn for Fall

As the weather cools and the leaves start to change color, it's time to start thinking about fall lawn care. Just because the grass isn't growing as quickly doesn't mean you can slack off on your lawn care routine. In fact, fall is the most important time of year to prepare your lawn for winter. Here are a few things you need to do to make sure your lawn stays healthy through the colder months.

Overseed Your Lawn

One of the best things you can do for your lawn during this time is to overseed it. Overseeding is when you add new seed to your existing lawn, which will help thicken it up and make it more resilient against disease and pests.

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when overseeding your lawn:

  1. Choose the right seed for your climate and grass type. Not all seeds are created equal, so make sure you pick one that will do well in your area.
  2. Overseed in late summer or early fall. This is the time of year when the conditions are ideal for new seedlings to take root.
  3. Prepare your lawn before overseeding. This means mowing it short (about 1 inch) and raking up any dead leaves or debris. You want to create a smooth, even surface for the new seedlings.
  4. Sow the seed by hand or with a spreader.

Fall Fertilization is Important

By fertilizing your lawn in the fall, you can help it recover from the summer heat. Fertilizing helps the grass roots to grow deep and strong, which will make your lawn more resilient come spring. It’s best to use a slow-release fertilizer so that the nutrients are released over time and don’t burn the grass. Apply the fertilizer according to the package directions, and water it in well—or contact a local lawn care company to take the guesswork out of things.

The Best Time for Lawn Aeration

If you want your lawn to stay healthy through the fall, aeration is key. Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. This helps the roots grow deeper and stronger, resulting in a healthier lawn.

Fall is the best time to aerate your lawn because the weather is cooler and the grass is still growing. However, you need to be careful not to over-aerate, which can damage the grass. Be sure to follow the directions on your aeration machine or hire a professional if you're not sure how to do it correctly.

Rake The Leaves Off Your Lawn

As the leaves begin to fall, it's important to start thinking about leaf raking. Raking leaves is not only a great way to keep your lawn looking neat and tidy, but it also helps to prepare your lawn for winter.

Leaf raking can be a bit of a chore, but it's important to do it regularly. A good rule of thumb is to rake your leaves once a week. This will help to prevent your lawn from being smothered by leaves and will also give you a chance to remove any that have already fallen.

If you have a lot of trees on your property, you may want to invest in a leaf blower. Leaf blowers can make the job of leaf raking much easier and faster. However, if you don't have many trees, a simple rake will suffice.

When you're finished raking up the leaves, be sure to dispose of them properly. Leaves can be composted or simply added to your municipality's green waste collection program. Either way, getting rid of the leaves is important for the health of your lawn.

Your Lawn Still Needs Water

It's important to keep your lawn hydrated during the fall months, especially if you live in an area with a colder climate. Watering your lawn in the fall helps it to stay healthy and green throughout the winter. Here are a few tips for watering your lawn in the fall:

  • Water early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid evaporation.
  • Make sure your sprinklers are properly adjusted so that they're not over-watering or under-watering your lawn.
  • If you have a manual sprinkler system, be sure to water evenly across the entire lawn.
  • Consider adding a layer of mulch to help retain moisture in the soil.

By following these tips, you can keep your lawn healthy and hydrated all autumn long!

Keep Mowing Your Lawn

Your grass will keep growing during the fall, so you'll need to continue to mow it on a regular basis. However, as the grass growth slows down, you can start mowing less often. Every 10-14 days should suffice.

Here are some things to keep in mind regarding fall lawn mowing:

  1. Mow your lawn regularly: This may seem like obvious advice, but it's important to keep up with your mowing even as the grass starts to die off. Regular mowing will help to ensure that your lawn recovers quickly in the spring.
  2. Set your mower to the correct height: As the grass dies off, you'll need to adjust the height of your mower accordingly. Setting the blade too low will damage the roots of the grass, while setting it too high will make it difficult for the grass to recover in the spring.
  3. Know when to stop mowing: The answer may vary depending on where you live, but as a general rule of thumb, you should stop mowing your lawn when the grass starts to turn brown. This usually happens in late fall or early winter.

Once the grass has died, there's no need to keep mowing it. In fact, doing so can actually damage the blades of your lawn mower. So unless you're planning on using your lawn mower as a snow plow, it's best to put it away until springtime.

Want to Make Things Easy? Contact Your Autumn Lawn Care Experts!

If you would prefer to leave all of your fall lawn care tasks to the professionals, Cherry Oak Landscaping will be happy to help. You can reach us at (517) 339-2881 or cherryoak@cherryoaklandscaping.com to learn more about what we can do for you.