Fall is a critical time for lawn care. The key to a green, lush lawn is to begin preparing it for winter as the days start to cool and the leaves begin to fall. Fall lawn care involves several important steps, such as raking, cutting your lawn shorter, watering, applying fertilizer, and seeding your lawn with cool season grass. Prepping your yard before the winter is one of the best ways to ensure that your lawn stays healthy throughout the winter and a headstart in the spring. Here are our five tips on how to care for grass this fall and ensure you have a beautiful lawn all year long.
1. Remove Leaves
Fall is the best time to prepare your lawn for the winter months ahead. One of the most important tasks in fall lawn care is removing leaves from your lawn. Although it may seem like a hassle, it’s actually quite simple, and the benefits are well worth the effort. There are several reasons why removing leaves from your lawn is essential. First, leaves can block sunlight from reaching the grass, which can cause the grass to become yellow and unhealthy-looking. Additionally, leaves can trap moisture and create an ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow. Lastly, leaves can provide a safe haven for pests like insects and rodents – so getting rid of them can help reduce the risk of infestation.
Conquer your lawn with the Black+Decker 250 mph 400 CFM Electric Backpack Blower/Mulcher/Vac. This 3-in-1 backpack has a 250 mph blowing velocity and powerful suction for picking up leaves and other yard debris. The Black+Decker Electric Backpack is a versatile tool that will make a huge difference in your yard maintenance routine. This product is not in store but can be ordered online and sent to your local Owenhouse Ace.
Also check out the STIHL BG 56 C-E 134 mph 412 CFM Gas Handheld Leaf Blower with a semi-automatic choke, adjustable nozzle, built-in throttle trigger lock with momentary stop switch and throttle lock that returns to the “start” setting when the engine is turned off, leaving it ready to easily get started when you’re back outside!
2. Keep Your Lawn Short
Fall is a critical time for lawn care. The shorter days and cooler temperatures signal the grass to start going into dormancy, and the reduced growth means that you won’t have to mow as often. However, it’s important to make sure that you don’t let your lawn get too long before you give it a trim. If the grass is too tall, it will be more likely to mat down when it’s wet, which can lead to disease and bare patches. During this time, it’s important to mow your lawn shorter to help the grass stay healthy through the winter. By mowing your lawn shorter in the fall, you’ll help the grass stay strong and prevent brown patches from forming. If you are wondering, “When to stop mowing lawn in fall?” We have that answer too! You should stop cutting your grass when the ground starts to freeze.
To tackle your lawn care in the fall, we recommend the Toro Smartstow Gas Self-Propelled Lawn Mower. Toro mowers are equipped with patented cutting technology that cuts the grass into teeny-tiny, clump-less clippings so they do not pile up when mowing. In addition to high performance, this mower also takes up less space in your garage due to Smartstow technology.
3. Reduce Watering
Although the days are getting shorter and the weather is cooling off, your grass still needs water to stay healthy and green. However, you should start to reduce watering in late October or early November, as the grass will begin to go dormant and will need less water. Once the grass is brown and dormant, you can stop watering altogether until spring. If you are receiving an inch or more of precipitation each week, you won’t need to water your lawn, as it is important to be mindful not to overwater your lawn during this time.
The Ace 5/8 in. D X 50 ft. L Medium Duty Garden Hose Green is the perfect tool to water your fall grass. This all-season hose is a medium-duty garden hose that is designed to stay flexible year-round in all temperatures to eliminate the need for adjustment, whether it’s hot or cold outside.
4. Fertilize Your Lawn
One of the key ways to do this is to fertilize your lawn in the fall. Fertilizing in the fall helps treat any existing problems with your lawn and gives the grass a boost to withstand the colder, harsher conditions of winter. It also helps to encourage new growth in the spring. Fall is also a good time to treat any weeds that may have taken over your lawn during the summer. By taking some time to incorporate a fertilization routine in your fall lawn care schedule, you can ensure a beautiful and healthy lawn come springtime.
The Scotts Lawn Essentials Collection Northern Small Lawn makes fall lawn care easy. This package includes a Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard Mini 60 in. W Push Spreader, Scotts GrubEx Grub and Insect Control Granules, Scotts Turf Builder All-Purpose Lawn Food For All Grasses, and Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action1 Weed & Feed Lawn Fertilizer For All Grasses so that you have everything you need to maintain a healthy lawn.
5. Spread Seed
Spreading seed in the fall is a great way to keep your lawn healthy. The cool temperatures and moist soil are ideal for grass seed germination. Additionally, fall-seeded grass has a head start on spring growth, giving it a better chance of surviving the hot summer months. Homeowners can spread seeds by hand or with a mechanical spreader. Be sure to treat the lawn with a pre-emergent herbicide before spreading the seed to prevent weed growth. Water the seeded area frequently, but be careful not to overwater, as this can cause the seed to rot. Following these tips will help ensure a healthy lawn come springtime.
The Scotts EdgeGuard DLX 5 ft. W Broadcast Push Spreader makes seeding your lawn easy! Use it to efficiently apply fertilizer, grass seed, and other lawn care products. The spreader’s design enhancements feature a curved hopper and dual-bladed agitator for smooth product funneling and consistent coverage. Spreaders provide uniform coverage of granular products; without one, you may end up with uneven coverage.
Your Ace Experts Are Here To Help!
Fall is a great time to give your lawn some extra attention. The cool weather gives the grass a chance to recover from the summer heat, and the longer days make lawn care a pleasure instead of a chore. Owenhouse Ace Hardware is your local resource for all things fall lawn care. From raking leaves to seed planting, we have everything you need to get your yard ready for winter. Both of our store locations stock all of the products you will need to keep your lawn looking top-notch. Our experts can give you all sorts of lawn care tips, like how to control and prevent voles from destroying your lawn. So whether you’re a gardening novice or a lawn care pro, Owehouse Ace Hardware is your one-stop shop for Fall lawn care.
