As the weather gets cooler here in Bedford and you have fewer chores in your vegetable garden and flower beds, it’s a great time to do some lawn chores. The work you put into the grass now will pay off next spring with a lusher, greener, and healthier lawn. Take these steps to take your lawn to the next level.
Pick up the Leaves
This classic fall chore is a must-do for healthy grass. By letting leaves stay put on the ground you smother the grass, blocking light from getting to it. The leaves can also trap moisture, which encourages disease. Rake or use a blower, but pick up the leaves and dispose of them regularly as they keep coming down throughout the fall.
Continue Cutting and Watering
Keep cutting your grass right up to the first hard freeze of the season. Keep the length between two and a half to three inches for optimum health. Too short and you’ll damage the root system, too long and mold or mildew may grow. If it’s not raining about an inch a week, keep watering the grass right up until you start getting frosts.
Seed Thin or Bare Areas of Lawn
Fall is a great time to seed your lawn. With cooler temperatures and more moisture, now is when new grass will thrive. If you have some bare patches or areas where the grass is then, seed it with an appropriate type of grass for your conditions. Make sure you water the areas of seed as needed to keep the ground moist.
Weed and Feed
Fertilizing now will give your grass roots the boost they need to grow stronger and longer. This will help grass come back greener and lusher in the spring. Your grass will most benefit from an infusion of nitrogen and potassium. A 24-0-10 fertilizer or a light spreading of compost are good options. This is also a good time to manage weeds, and you can find a weed-and-feed product that will combine both chores in one.
Aerate Every Few Years
Aerating the lawn loosens up the soil and helps more water, nutrients, and oxygen to get to grass roots. You only need to do it every few years for a healthy lawn, but the best time of year to do it is in the fall. Spring aeration can promote the growth of weeds. Rent an aerator at your local hardware store or call a lawn company in to get the chore done quickly.
Manage Thatch if Needed
Another chore you don’t have to do every year is manage thatch, the layer of dead grass on top of the soil. Take a plug of grass out of the lawn to determine how thick the thatch is. If it measures a half an inch or less, you don’t need to do anything now. If it is thicker than a half inch it’s time to dethatch. Rent a power rake to cut the thatch and then hand rake and remove the debris.
For healthy, green grass in the spring, fall lawn chores are necessary. Take the time now to do these chores and you’ll reap the benefits next year with a healthier, thicker, and greener lawn.
