With
the major droughts across the country this summer, fall lawn care is more
important this year than ever before. Read on for what to do to your lawn over
the next month to make sure you give it the best shot to be lush and green next
year.
First
and foremost, fall is the best time to reseed your lawn. Since it is cool
season, the best grasses for this area would be rye grass, the fescues (both "fine" and
"tall" kinds), Kentucky bluegrass and bent grass. When
seeding, over-seed your lawn in thin areas to give the area a good chance to
recover. If you need to lay sod instead of reseeding your lawn, the Fall is
still the best time. Make sure to keep feet and paws of the new sod or seeded
areas until it’s been mowed two or three times.
Cutting your grass
is still a necessity, but you need to adjust your mower blades to cut the grass
to around 2” to 2 ½”. Watering your lawn once or twice a week if it’s dry will
give your lawn water to sustain it over the long winter months. Fertilizing the
lawn in the fall is also key in the Northeast because it helps the lawn green
up quickly in the Spring.
Aerating
your lawn better allows air and water to get into the soil and keep your lawn
healthy throughout the winter. Just because it is cooler doesn't mean that
water isn't necessary for your lawn to survive. This eliminates what gardening
professionals refer to as thatch. Thatch is basically soil that is dried out
and compacted so it suffocates the grass and then the grass doesn't grow. If
you can't afford to rent an aerator, go
in with some neighbors on one. You should also rake your leaves so they aren't suffocating your lawn under the snow.
Now
is also as good a time as any to have the pH balance of your lawn tested if
your lawn is not performing well. If it is too acidic, apply lime to your lawn.
If the alkalinity needs to be reduces, apply sulfur. You should also apply weed
killer to broadleaf weeds (like dandelions). As always, please be careful when
using chemicals, even weed killer and fertilizer for your grass. You need to
use the proper equipment and follow directions so as to not hurt yourself, your
friends and family, or Fluffy and Scruffy. Or, as always, call a professional!
