Once fall rolls around, it’s time to get your lawn ready for the winter months. If you’re not sure where to start, we’re here to help.
Follow these five easy fall lawn care tips from Blain’s Farm & Fleet to get your lawn ready for winter.
The first fall lawn maintenance tip is to remove all the leaves from your yard. Leaves trap moisture and block out any sunlight, which can potentially kill the grass.
When the leaves begin to fall, you need to start raking or leaf-blowing. It’s a good idea to keep up with the leaves throughout the fall so your lawn isn’t dead come spring time.
Grass roots need to stay hydrated, even in the fall. While there’s more moisture in the air and less evaporation, it still doesn’t mean your lawn is getting enough water.
Lawns typically need at least an inch of water per week. You can use a rain gauge to keep track of how much water your lawn is actually getting. Continue watering through the end of October.
It’s also important to continue cutting your lawn into the fall. Just make sure to do it at the right height.
If you let the grass grow too long, it can become matted and susceptible to winter fungi. If it’s too short, it can mess with the root system and make the lawn vulnerable to the cold and dryness of winter.
Keeping the grass between 2-1/2 and 3 inches in height is ideal.
Plus, regular cutting helps cut up and get rid of the fallen leaves.
Another part of fall lawn care is fertilizing. A slow-release 24-0-16 formula fertilizer is perfect for fall application.
If you’ve never fertilized your lawn before, visit our how-to article for an in-depth fertilizer schedule to follow year-round.
If you’re unsure about winterizing your lawn, read through our how-to article to get started.
Finally, you need to protect your lawn against weeds. Overseeding your existing lawn is one way to accomplish this. It’s a bit of a challenge, but worth it if it saves your lawn.
The seeds can’t be simply broadcast over the existing lawn. They need to be in the soil, watered, and germinate to actually grow.
For more tips on preventing lawn weeds, read through our lawn problems article.
And for more tips on lawn maintenance, visit our Lawn Care Blog.
