Fall is a great time to give your lawn a little extra attention. After a long summer of heat, drought, weeds, disease, and insects, your yard may need some help bouncing back. Before winter sets in, a few simple steps can help your lawn recover now and come back stronger in the spring.
Most lawns need about one inch of water each week. During the hottest months of summer, your lawn may have needed more to stay healthy. As temperatures cool and rain becomes more frequent, you can usually water less often. Still, it’s important to keep giving your lawn moisture until the ground starts to freeze. Once average nighttime temperatures are consistently in the low 30s, you can stop watering for the season.
A fall fertilizer treatment can give your lawn a helpful boost before winter. It helps grass build stronger roots, which can make it better prepared for harsh winter weather and ready for a healthier start in the spring.
During the summer, it’s best to mow at the highest deck setting to help protect your lawn. Keeping grass a little taller can help with:
As fall arrives, don’t be tempted to cut your lawn too short. Keep mowing high and avoid removing more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. When it’s time for your final mow of the season, lower the mower deck gradually over a few mowings instead of dropping it to the lowest setting all at once.
Fall leaves may look nice in your yard, but once they pile up, they can cause problems for your lawn. Piles of leaves can block sunlight, trap moisture, and keep water from evaporating the way it should. Over time, that can lead to fungus, mold, disease, and damaged grass.
Spring and fall are both good times to plant grass, but fall can be especially helpful for filling in bare areas. Re-seeding bare spots in the fall gives new grass time to grow before next summer’s heat and stress. If some spots don’t fill in completely, you’ll still have another chance to try again in the spring.
A little fall lawn care can go a long way. By taking care of a few simple tasks now, you can help prevent more damage over the winter and give your lawn a stronger start when spring returns. You don’t have to tackle everything at once; even small efforts can make a difference. With a little preparation this fall, your lawn will be in a better position to grow healthy and green next year.