Fall Lawn Care Provides A Healthier Lawn In The Spring

When it comes to caring for your lawn, fall is one of the best times for lawn maintenance. With adequate preparation for the cold months and appropriate over-seeding, your lawn will come up earlier and fuller in the spring. This quick green up will help your lawn prepare for the hot months of summer and out compete the weeds so that less of them make it to maturity and seed more of themselves. Over-seeding this time of year helps the grass take hold better due to the cooler temperatures and less weeds being present.

Having the right selection of tools is important to help you get the job done well and with the least amount of effort. In some cases, safety equipment is also important. Be sure to have a good rake, aerator, spreader, lawn mower, garden hose and a soil test kit. You will also need fertilizer, grass seed, herbicide, garden gloves, and in some cases some protective eye wear.

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The first step to fall lawn maintenance is to remove any leaves that have fallen and covered the grass. Leaves can deny your lawn sunlight and water and impact its strength and health. The decaying leaf matter also will acidify your soil, requiring the supplement of lime in the spring to correct any issues of PH. Keep your lawn cut until it goes completely dormant for the winter. Remember to never cut more than a third of the length of your grass at one time as it will stress the lawn.

Next you will want to repair any damaged or unhealthy patches of lawn. In some cases it may be appropriate to replace your entire lawn, but this shouldn't be necessary if proper care has been given. Occasionally, it will be necessary to repair spots of your lawn from weed and environment damage. You can reseed and balance the soil for bare spots and areas, where weeds took hold quickly and effectively, with a good grass seed and fertilizer.

To do these repairs you will need to kill existing weeds and grass with a non-selective herbicide such as Roundup and other similar products. These herbicides do not penetrate the soil deeply so it becomes possible to replant your seed in the same area anywhere from 5 to 10 days. Just be careful where you apply them as they will kill anything organic it lands on. Be sure the weeds and grass are all dead in the selected area, using a second application of chemicals if necessary.

Once you are ready to reseed, you only need to follow a simple process. Rake through all the thatch and into your soil to create a loosened, aerated surface that will help your seed have good contact with the soil. Remove any rocks or debris as you move through the area. Do not do this if your soil is wet as it will compact the soil.

Choose a seed based on your planting conditions and apply it with your spreader based on the recommendations and settings from the seed provider. After you have spread the seed where needed, you may consider putting down mulch such as straw or peat moss to protect the seed and retain moisture. After the mulch you should put down a good starter fertilizer to ensure the grass has adequate development before it gets too cold. Water the seed daily, at least a half inch, until the seedlings appear. After germination, continue to water one inch per week until it is dormant for winter or ready for mowing.

Fall Lawn Care Provides A Healthier Lawn In The Spring

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