Make this change now to ensure more green grass comes out of winter.
The ad will close in the next 25 days.The summer months are usually regarded as the best season for lawn and garden care, however every season is important. In the fall, trees’ leaves turn brown and dry, so the maintenance of your lawn in front and back is essential. If you’re raking your lawn or spreading grass feed that is rich in nutrients, there are many easy and efficient ways to prepare your lawn to be ready for winter hibernation. We sought out lawn care experts to determine which autumn lawn care tips are necessary to turn your lawn into a lush and vibrant sea of green when spring comes around. This is what they told us.
Clear Out Weeds and Dead Plants
While they’re more visible during the summer, however, weeds are present throughout the year. In the fall, you should weed out dying or dead plants, and allow the space for grass and covering plants, says Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love. Clearing out dead plants helps keep the soil rich in nutrients and stops the growth of weeds, Yamaguchi says.
Water Well
“Since fall is a recovery and preparation time for your lawn, it needs plenty of water,” Yamaguchi suggests. Droughts in summer and water restrictions could prevent your lawn from receiving the water it needs during the summer months, and now is the perfect moment to correct the issue. Also, you’re preparing your lawn for winter, and it should be healthy for sprouting in the spring. You should aim for around one inch of water each week and less or more depending on the rainfall.” Once temperatures have dropped to freezing are reached, cease watering completely to avoid the damage caused by freezing.
Remove Flammable Plants
Wildfires and summer seem to pair well however, fall is an extremely fire-prone time. Many of the plants we love carry organic oils, which can be extremely fire-proof. “Cypress trees, juniper, rosemary, eucalyptus, and arborvitae are some common ones,” Yamaguchi declares. If wildfires pose a serious danger in your area this time of year, it’s the perfect time to look into getting rid of these plants from your yard in order to minimize dangers of fire. Also, now is the perfect time to purchase an insurance policy against fires if you do not already have it.
Apply a Nutritious Fertilizer
Give your lawns in the front and back some nourishment prior to winter. While the top growth of the grass might slow down however, there’s plenty happening beneath the soil. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer to stimulate roots to grow deep earlier in the fall, when the soil is still a little soft and pliable prior to when the frost is first appearing. The right timing for fertilization will allow the grass to conserve nutrients through winter. This boost in grass is more likely be healthier and greener in the spring.
Plant Seeds, If Needed
Certain flowers that bloom in spring require seeding in the fall or by the end of summer the advice of Yamaguchi. Seeding in fall can fill in the gaps or unfilled patches. The time between late summer and early fall is the ideal time to plant seeds when the weather is comfortable and the nights aren’t too cold. Don’t be concerned If the seeds don’t germinate until the autumn, there’ll be an opportunity to try in spring.
Rake Regularly
No matter what it is, whether it’s pine needles or fallen branches, clearing the lawn of a dense patch of natural debris encourages grass growth, and also reduces slips and fire dangers. While a little jumping is enjoyable for children at all levels, bigger piles of leaves could engulf the grass, collect water and create an ideal habitat for insects. Rake the lawn regularly to maintain an orderly and neat appearance.
Dethatch and Aerate
Are you wondering the reason your lawn appears to be an unnatural mat of broken or dead roots, grass and plants? The combination of organic material is known as thatch, and it is likely to build up in lawns that are regularly mowed, but is not removed or aerated. The fall season is a great time to remove and aerate your lawn.
Manual raking is the best way to be effective, however power rakes may help as well. Dethatching will ensure that water, nutrients and air can reach the soil more efficiently. Aerating makes tiny pits in the ground, which allow the circulation of nutrients, water, light, and air. You can accomplish this by hand using a pitchfork, shoe spikes, or with a liquid solution made from enzymes. Although they require the use of additional equipment, dethatching as well as air-aerating during the fall can be a good investment.
Mow the Grass Low
As the summer progresses into autumn, don’t be scared giving your grass a shorter cut. Do not cut the lawn, but cut it shorter than during the warm season. The shorter length prevents grass from becoming thick and brittle, which can cause mold to grow. When the temperatures begin to cool, it could cause the grass to shrink, meaning that cutting less often. If the grass stops completely growing, you should stop pruning until you reach spring.
