Cool fall weather is a great time for lawn care and fertilizing, controlling and enhancing the appearance and health of your yard. You can make your yard lush and green when the temperatures rise again in spring by doing a little bit of work now.
Adjust your Mowing Height
In the fall, if you have raised the height of your lawnmower in summer to lessen heat stress to your lawn (roughly 3 inches is the best height for most grasses), then return it to its original height. To prevent your grass from getting mangled under leaves or snow, cut your lawn slightly in autumn. However, it is important not to cut the grass too short. A tightly cut turf will have fewer roots, which makes it easier for weeds to gain a foothold.
Make sure to give your grass plenty of water
You might want to water your turf deep a few times before the winter freezes if you have a prolonged summer drought. The lawn will transition into winter by getting a few deep soaks and moistening the soil for several inches before it freezes. The fall weather patterns will often change, and nature will supply the moisture. Watering in the morning is a good idea to limit evaporation.
Fertilize
If you are in the North, fall is the best time for fertilizing your lawn. Bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass are cool-season grasses and respond well to fertilization in September. Then again, in late October or November, for a second feeding. This helps them grow earlier and looks better in the spring. If they have not been overseen with winter ryegrass, it is best to avoid fertilizing warm-season dormant grasses in the South. An excellent option would be to hire professional fertilizing services since adding fertilizer can be a bit tricky.
Attack Weeds
Instead of using chemical herbicides for weed control, creating a lush, healthy lawn is the best way. Make sure to mow at the correct height and add fertilizer if necessary. If your lawn is in good shape, smaller weeds will be shaded. You can pull out larger weeds by using your weeding tool. Follow all label instructions and only use the weed killer to target the weeds that you are looking to eliminate.
Repair Dead Patches
It’s a great time to reseed thin or dead patches in cool-season lawns. You’ll have fewer weeds next year if you plant in autumn. The seedlings will be established before the arrival of hot, stressful weather. Mulch products that are embedded with fertilizer and seed are an easy way to fill in the gaps. Make sure you prepare the soil with a rake prior to seeding. Water new seeds frequently for at least two weeks to encourage rapid germination.
Lay Sod
Fall is the best time to sod or plant a cool-season lawn. You can sod quickly with moderate temperatures and plenty of moisture. High-quality sod is dense and dense and will not bear weeds. This is a quick and easy way to fix bare spots. You can water the new sod every day if conditions become dry.
Look for Thatch
The soil’s surface is covered with thatch, which is a layer made up of organic matter. Thatch is a layer of dead organic matter that forms near the soil surface. It can cause insect and disease problems, as well as damage from drought or cold weather. Overwatering your lawn too often or overfertilizing it can cause thatch. You can check for itch by turning a small area with a spade. A problem is only one inch of itch. You can remove more thatch if it is greater than that.
Get rid of excess thatch
Dethatching is the process of removing the thatch layer from the soil and cutting out any debris. This can be done with power rakes and vertical mowers, which can be rented at rental agencies and hardware stores. After one of these machines has been removed, you can use a hand rake to remove any remaining thatch. The thatch can be composted.
Test Garden Tip – Power raking or vertical mowing can cause damage to centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass. Make sure the knives are properly spaced to cut these grasses.
Aerate
Aeration can also be used to reduce thatch, improve drainage, and loosen the soil. The most popular type of aerator is the core aerator. Core aerators are able to remove soil plugs or cores. This helps break up thatch and improve soil structure. Cores are left on top and will eventually fall off depending on rainfall, mowing, and traffic. Cool-season grasses should be aerated in the fall, and warm-season grasses should be aerated in the spring.
Use a topdressing
Topdressing is the process of adding a thin layer of compost to your turf. Topdressing improves the growing conditions by decreasing thatch and increasing organic matter. It also smoothens bumps in your lawn and reduces the need to fertilize. Apply 1/4-1/2 inch to 1/2-inch of high-quality soil all over the lawn. Be sure to target areas that are thinning. Before you apply the topdressing, make sure that your lawn is properly aerated and dethatched. Next, rake the soil to incorporate the topdressing.
Remove Fallen Leaves
You can remove fallen leaves by raking or mulching with a mower before they mat down and smother your lawn. Mulch-mowing mowers are great for shredding small amounts of leaves. The mulching mower also returns the shredded organic material to the soil. This is similar to topdressing. Mulch your lawn every few days in late autumn to keep it clean. If you find many leaves, rake them and then compost them.
Drain Irrigation Lines
Before freezing weather hits, drain the lawn’s irrigation system completely. The system can be emptied with compressed air, or you can use drain valves. To get the best results, turn off the water supply to the system and drain each area separately. Drain the main supply line to the house. Use an air compressor to maintain a pressure of 50 psi.
Call Conway Lawn Care Service today for all of your lawn care needs.
Like our Facebook page for more great info about lawn maintenance services.
Conway Lawn Care Service
Conway, SC 29526
843-353-2259
http://conwaylawncareservices.com/