Fall Lawn Care Tips for Cool-Season Lawns
Spring gets a lot of attention when it comes to lawncare, but fall is actually the most critical season for lawncare. What you do now will set your grass up for success next year. Cool-season lawns grow in the spring and fall, but in the fall they are busy storing carbohydrates for winter dormancy. Leaves, nutrition, proper irrigation, and prepping your turf for winter gives you the best opportunity for a vibrant, healthy lawn when everything thaws out in the spring.
Continue to Irrigate.
Maintain at least 1 inch of water per week for peak turf health. Cooler temperatures lead to less evaporation so you'll likely need to adjust your irrigation schedule as the days get shorter and the thermometer dips lower. Stick a long screwdriver into your yard and see if the soil is wet to about 6-8".
Mulch Leaves.
Rather than rake your leaves and take them to a landfill or compost pile, mulch them into small chunks and leave them on your lawn. This not only saves you time and hassle, but improves the soil of your yard and provides a boost of nutrients for the turf.
Keep Yard Clear of Clutter.
Clear your lawn of any debris such as twigs, leaves (unless mulched), yard games, hoses, coolers, etc... It's critical that your yard receives enough oxygen and sunlight in the fall and doesn't get matted down when the snow comes to town.
Feed Your Lawn.
The most important fertilizer application for your yard is in the fall. A proper feeding will ensure good nutrition and a last chance to grow and store carbohydrates so the grass plants pop right back up healthy and green in the spring.
What do you feed your lawn you may ask? We're partial to lay down the LAWN™. Packed with slow-release nitrogen, phosphorus and a potent boost of potassium your lawn will be well-fed and ready to withstand the challenges of winter.
Maintain Yard Tools and Equipment.
Now is the time to ensure your mower blades are sharpened for the final cuttings of the growing season and ready for the first cut in the spring. Don't forget to put some fuel stabilizer in the tank before retiring your trusty mower to the shed. A good hose down of your now well-worn mower wouldn't hurt either. Move all your pruning equipment, sprinklers, rakes, etc... to a safe storage area so they don't get buried in the snowstorms to come. See also: How to Winterize and Maintain Your Mower
Final Mowing.
Start dropping your mower blade bit by bit for your last several mows. A shorter turf canopy heading into winter will prevent the grass from getting folded over and better allow for grass plants to use energy where needed. Try to have your grass around 2" tall when it hits dormancy. (see also: Lawnmower Winterizing)
Grills and BBQ Equipment
You may want to move your outdoor cooking equipment to a more secure location or put a cover on them so they don't get tarnished during fall and winter weather. Don't fret just yet though, there's still plenty of football weekends left to fire up the backyard grill or smoker.
Finish Strong This Fall
Dominating your fall lawn chores means your lawn will emerge healthy and green in the spring. Our convenient fertilizer subscription programs make it easy to have a healthy and beautiful lawn. Following these programs will help keep your lawn looking sharp from when it wakes up in the spring through fall dormancy. Now you know what to do, go forth and own your yard.
Packed with slow-release nitrogen and a powerful punch of potassium, this is the ideal winterizer fertilizer.
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