Fall lawn care tips are everywhere. Do this; don’t do that. No matter where you look, it seems that people are all telling you something different. It can be confusing. If you are trying to make sure that your spring lawn looks great, now is the time to do some preparation. The advantage of winterizing your property is an incredible looking landscape in the spring.
When you winterize, you are helping your lawn recover. With that in mind, follow the tips outlined below.
Fall Lawn Care Tips That Work
Most of these jobs are small on time, but big on results.
Remove leaves
Autumn leaves create a blanket on the ground. For many years, people thought we should leave them until spring to help insulate the soil. The opposite is true. Fallen leaves trap moisture, block necessary sunlight, and tend to compost. This strangles the grass under the leaves, causing it to die.
If you’re in a Halloween mood, grab a giant orange pumpkin bag and fill it with your leaves until the candy is gone.
Loosen the soil (aerate)
You can rent a residential aerator that rolls around your yard (with you pushing it, of course) or purchase flat plastic boards with spikes on the bottom. These strap to your shoes, allowing you to walk around your yard.
But if you are frugal — make an aerator with an old board (between 12 and 24 inches long), some 16-penny nails, and a piece of rope. Drill holes in the board to attach the rope to the outside ends. With the board on the ground, you want the rope to be around your waist level. With a hammer, pound the nails through the board about two inches apart, so the pointy end sticks out. Once your board is complete, use it, pointed side down, to move around your entire yard. Step on the board to make sure the nails penetrate to root clusters to aerate well.
Pretend you’re making crop circles — it will be fun.
Add fertilizer and seed
Select a fertilizer rated for fall use and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for the correct application. You can also add seed in the fall to enhance your lawn during the slow-growing months.
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An important note is to maintain a schedule for fertilizing and seeding. All products come with recommended time tables for application. You want your seed down early enough to allow it to begin sprouting before the dormant period.
Mowing and watering
We all look forward to putting the mower away for the season, but we shouldn’t. In the winter, you want to continue mowing, but adjust your mower to a higher level. During the summer, most grass is kept around two inches. For the winter, add about an inch to your deck height. You’ll still get a break, as you won’t need to mow every week.
Watering your grass, unless you are in a wet environment, should also be continued through late October. You want the roots and grass to hydrate well going into the colder months. A good gauge is to make sure your lawn has about an inch of water per week.
Don’t forget to drain hoses and flush your irrigation system before the first freeze. If you aren’t sure how to do this task, contact PRO Sprinkler Systems, Inc. to set up an appointment.
Pro Sprinklers — Irrigation Experts
If you hate watering your lawn or just want an automatic sprinkler, consider having the technicians from PRO Sprinklers out for a free estimate. Simply fill out and submit the online contact form. For more than 20 years, PRO Sprinklers has been providing commercial and residential sprinkler service and irrigation systems. Our service area includes Putnam, Dutchess, Westchester, and Fairfield Counties.
Call us to set up an appointment:
914-277-3827
845-628-4484
You can also visit us on Facebook.