Getting a Jump Start on the Season
The fall season can be a busy time with the amount of clean up we’re faced with such as leaf raking, pruning, etc… which makes working on the great outdoors so great but we can’t forget our lawns which look so great keeping us proud doing the spring and summer months.
But as the spring and summer month passes and the colder months approaches and with less microbial activity our lawns are depending on us to keep them in the best possible shape ever.
The fall months provide us with the opportunity to get a jump start on the season so pay close attention to your lawn during this time of the year doing as much as you can to ensure that your lawn maintains its health and vigor
What I love about a well-maintained lawn is its beauty and how it can increase a properties value along with a well-maintained garden or landscape this makes coming home after a hard day of work so inviting, more can be said on that but let’s dive into the discussion at hand and get a jump start on the season.
How to take Care of Grass in the Fall
- Keep grass well raked
- Proper cutting height
- Loosen the soil
- Well-Watered
- Fertilizing
- Reseeding
Keeping your grass well raked
1. Don’t allow fallen leaves to cover your lawn because if left can cause many injuries, fallen leaves if allowed to remain will trap moisture which encourages disease that may eventually lead to the death of your lawn.
2. Fallen leaves can also block much-needed sunlight from your lawn, remember lawns or grass also needs the help of the sun to keep them growing healthy and vibrant so remove fallen leaves. Those leaves can be reused in a compost pile or even as mulch around your garden plants. As the leaves decompose will add nutrients to the soil which your grass will take up by their roots.
Proper cutting height
1. Continue your lawn cutting until the first frost, your lawn should always be maintained at the proper height to keep it healthy.
Weeding
2. Before cutting your lawn it is best to weed, weeds will compete with your lawn for light, nutrients, and water. Weeds can also harbor garden insect pests and disease which can become a big issue, hand weeding is a safe approach but is also laborious. There are many herbicides that are sold which can take care of your weed issues, just remember to read the instruction for your grass type and how to apply for the best results.
Aerating your soil
3. To keep your lawn growing its best it is good to aerate, core aeration will loosen the soil making it more porous for water and fertilizers to get down to the root zone where it is needed, soil aeration will also help with proper air circulation that is beneficial for soil microbes.
The job of soil microbes is to breakdown organic matter in a soluble form allowing garden plants as well as grass to take these nutrients up through their roots.
Well-Watered
4. During the fall months continue to water your lawn, even though this time of the year the growth of your grass slows it is best to maintain watering your lawn so it doesn’t become weak and sickly. Once the ground freezes discontinue watering until the cold has passed and the soil warms up.
Fertilizing
5. Fertilizers are plant nutrients and will help to keep your grass in the best health ever preparing them for the following season growth. Continue to fertilizer through the fall months until the first frost or ice covers the ground.
Before applying fertilizer read and follow the manufacture’s direction because the label is the law failure doing so can lead to applying incorrectly and can lead to injury and probably death.
Reseeding
6. Reseeding your lawn has its benefits during this time of the year because reseeding your lawn will help by filling in gaps or bare spots also the temperature is cooler and there is the possibility of moisture being available. As the seeds are sowed they must come into full contact with the soil and keep moist for proper germination.
Additional Information
Thatch build-up
1. Thatch build-up is a layer of organic matter which builds up between the leaves and the soil consisting of dead leaves grass and roots. This build-up can deprive your lawn of moisture and nutrients by acting as a barrier.
The solution in removing thatch is with the help of a dethatching rake which will slice into the lawn bringing up a good amount of dead material. To avoid damaging the grass rake in one direction then with a metal rake clean the grass. The thatch once removed can be used as compost or recycled back into your lawn
Top Dressing
2. Lawn top dressing is beneficial because top dressing with sand will help in leveling any depression in your lawn along with helping with drainage.
Recycling grass clipping
3. Recycling grass clippings back into your lawn is a great way to feed your lawn with this natural organic, grass clippings will decompose giving your lawn the needed nutrients.
Lawn Pests
4. Keep an eye out for lawn pests, these pests can cause damage and if left unchecked or unattended will kill your lawn, it is, therefore, important to know your grass type along with the host insect to get the proper treatment and treat according to the manufacture’s direction.
Avoid cutting grass that is wet
5. Attempting to cut your lawn when it’s wet will rip the grass causing it to look unattractive and uneven, wait until your lawn is dry before cutting.
Proper cutting height
6. Know your grass cutting height and always strive to cut at this height because improper cutting heights can lead to lawn weakening along with weeds taking over.
Your Lawnmower
7. Ensure that your lawnmower is in good repair because a mower that is not working properly will give poor cuttings causing your lawn to look unattractive along with working you harden. Also, the blades should always be well sharpened to give that quick neat clean cut.
Soil Ph
8. Before installing your lawn ensure that a soil ph test is carried out if you have a lawn that is established a soil ph test can still be carried out to determine what your lawn needs for its overall health.
How to mow your lawn
9. The correct way to mow your lawn is in a pattern that involves mow in one direction and then in the opposite direction, in other words, you would mow in a line and once you have reached the end of that line you would mow in the other direction also in a line going up one way and then down the other way.
The proper gear
10. The proper gear is so important so as to not cause injury to your self, wearing the proper footwear to protect your feet, googles for your eyes and the proper clothing, long sleeve shirt and pants especially when mowing doing the hotter months to protect your skin from overexposure from the suns ray along with a brim hat and earplugs will go a long way in your safety. For more on garden, safety refer to the category section of this website.
Walk the lawn
11. Walking your lawn and looking for and removing objects that may be thrown by the blade before mowing is a must to protect a person that may be passing.
The final word
Getting a jump start on the season is made possible by following these proven methods, why allow the lawn that you took care of during the spring and summer months to decline during the fall and winter months when you can keep them growing their best so when the warmer seasons arrives again your lawn will once again become the talk of the neighborhood by growing healthy and vibrant.
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About the author
Norman loves being in the garden, both at home and for his job....
he is 'Natures Little helper' being outdoors, growing his vegetables and flowers from an early age.
Now having spent over 22 years in the profession he want to give some of his knowledge to others...
his vast array of hints and tips you will find scattered over this site will help you no end growing plants in your garden.