Fall Lawn Care

Our front lawn has never looked better, thanks to rainfall once a week for June, July and August. Even September’s mini drought was good for the grass because it forced roots to go down deep in search of moisture. 

Despite the lawn’s current healthy state, I am not going to put away the shovel just yet.  Checking these six steps before the snow flies will pay off in spades next spring and summer.

Dethatching:  this year’s excessive growth has brought on an accumulation of dead grass forming a dense mat that may prevent new grass from sprouting next spring.  Use a stiff garden rake to remove the extra thatch. Just remember that a small amount of thatch is desirable to provide soil insulation and to offer shelter for overwintering pollinators.

Aerate the soil:  By the end of summer, soil becomes compacted because of foot traffic and excessive rain.  Aerating is the ticket to reduce compaction, improve drainage and improve root growth. Use a spike aerator to drive thin spikes into the soil or hire a lawncare service to carry out plug aeration.  This process removes cores of soil about half the size of a hot dog, and deposits them on the lawn.  Your lawn will look odd for a week or two, but new growth will quickly look after the plugs. 

Fertilize:  Adding lawn food in fall will give you a head start on spring growth.  If your grass is weak, apply fall fertilizer in September or October using a formulation with extra phosphorous and potassium to build roots. For late fall application apply high nitrogen fertilizer to encourage strong growth in spring.

Apply nematodes:  If your grass had dead patches in spring, there is a good chance roots were eaten by white grubs, the larval stage of Japanese Beetles.  Nematodes are beneficial control for young beetles before they go deep into the soil for their winter rest.  The best time to apply is early fall. 

Rake leaves and clean up debris.  In the past, I have always tidied up the lawn and garden squeaky clean in order to save time next spring.  But wise gardeners now know that leaving a small number of leaves offers shelter for overwintering beneficial insects.  Leaving a certain amount of flower stems and dry flowers in gardens is also a good idea. 

Top dress with new seed: If you have weak areas in the lawn, add a thin layer of soil and sow grass seed.  The best time to undertake lawn repair is late summer, but if you are late and sow seed in October or November, some grass will sprout quickly while the rest of the seed will sprout in spring.