Fall Maintenance Series #3: Lawn Winterization

Fall is a beautiful season: the reds, oranges, and yellows of fall foliage attract much attention and appreciation as the weather breaks each year. While this natural phenomenon is striking, it is also short-lived. Before you know it, those colorful leaves will be littering your lawn. Then what? It’s time for the dreaded “fall clean up.”

While preparing your lawn for the harsh winter weather ahead can be a daunting task, it is a task that cannot be ignored if you seek a beautiful, manicured spring lawn. Keep reading for a rundown on your lawn’s fall spa treatment protocol.

Aeration:

Aerating your lawn is the process of removing soil plugs using special equipment. This equipment can be bought or rented by homeowners. The process of aeration has a plethora of benefits including encouraging root growth, relieving compacted soil which allows for more moisture and nutrient absorption from fertilization, increasing resistance to drought, disease, and heat stress, as well as increasing resistance to insects and pests.

Leaf and debris clean up:

Removing leaves and debris from your lawn allows sunlight and oxygen to reach the grass. If a layer of leaves is left to block sunlight and oxygen, grass growth may be inhibited and the blockage can lead to the growth of snow mold, or any other typically growing mold and fungus that has the potential to spread to other plants over time. Leaves also create the perfect habitat for bugs and other pests which can damage your lawn and find their way into your home. Last, but not always completely obvious, is the potential hazard that wet leaves can create on sidewalks or driveways when you or a guest slip and fall. Remove the leaves, reduce the liability.

Weed control:

To minimize those pesky weeds in the spring, it is best to apply a pre-emergent before the first frost. This prevents any seeds that may be lurking from being able to germinate. Many broadleaf weeds, including the dreaded dandelion, germinate in the fall. If your lawn is prone to dandelions, consider applying a broadleaf herbicide, which is absorbed by the plant and carried to its roots, causing the plant to die off. Perennial weeds also dedicate the fall season to concentrating their nutrients and energy into their roots for the long winter ahead. Pulling or treating these weeds with herbicides can help reduce their chances of survival through the winter.

Fertilization:

Applying fertilizer helps the grass regenerate roots that may have been damaged by that scorching summer heat. For best results, soil testing kits are available and will help you determine the proper fertilizer or nutrients your lawn may be missing.

Mowing:

Ideally, grass should be cut as short as possible once the fall weather sets in to prevent fungal diseases, especially snow mold. A short lawn is more resistant to any snow or ice damage as there is less plant to be bent or smashed under the weight of the snow. Keep in mind that you should never cut more than one-third of the grass height in a single mow—if it’s been a while since your grass has had a good cutting, you may want to consider mowing at progressively lower heights over a period of time.

Watering:

Just because the summer heat has dissipated doesn’t mean your lawn doesn’t still need some moisture. Continue to water your lawn regularly in the fall, especially if you’ve applied fertilizer. This will increase the effectiveness of the fertilizer as well as encourage root growth that will help keep your grass strong and healthy next season.

Overseeding:

If there are areas of your lawn that are bare or thinning, you may want to consider overseeding to correct the issue. Fall is ideal for lawn repair and overseeding as the soil’s ambient temperature is still warm, which is ideal for germination of grass seed. Overseeding can help create a thicker, stronger, healthier lawn while increasing resilience against disease, drought, heat, and even pests.

The benefits of doing a fall clean up are substantial, especially if maintaining that manicured lawn that makes the neighbors’ heads turn is important to you. Not only does it provide all of the benefits listed above, it also leaves you a clean, blank canvas for those Christmas or holiday decorations!

#3 - Lawn winterization