The leaves are changing color and the weather is getting cooler; that means it’s time for fall lawn maintenance. Yard work doesn’t stop with the cool weather. Following these five tips, you can keep your lawn looking its best all winter.
Aerate your Lawn During Fall Lawn Maintenance
Aeration helps improve the grass’s root structure and allows oxygen and fertilizer to reach deep into the soil. Aeration also helps reduce compaction, thatch buildup, and puddling.
Use a garden fork or aerating tool to punch holes into the soil every few inches, being careful not to damage the roots of your grass. Water deeply after aeration to help the roots recover and grow strong.
Overseed Your Lawn
This adds new grass seed to fill any bare spots or thin areas. Overseeding also helps improve your lawn’s overall health by increasing grass density and enhancing resistance to disease and pests. To overseed, scatter grass seed over the entire lawn surface and rake it in. Keep the seeds moist until they germinate and be prepared to fertilize.
Apply a Fall Fertilizer
Fertilizer isn’t just for the summer months. A good fall fertilizer helps to promote new growth and gives your lawn the nutrients it needs to get through the winter. Look for a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content than phosphorus and potassium. A 3-1-2 or 4-1-2 ratio is ideal. Apply the fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Fall Lawn Maintenance Includes Mowing Your Lawn One Last Time
Keeping your grass short through the cold helps to prevent snow mold and other diseases from taking hold. Set your mower blades to their highest setting and remove no more than one-third of the grass height. This final mowing also helps ensure a neat appearance through the fall and winter months.
Rake Up Leaves and Other Debris
Keeping leaves, sticks, and other debris out of the yard helps prevent pests from taking up residence in your yard and makes it easier to mow. Be sure to rake up any leaves that have blown into your yard from neighboring properties. If you have a lot of leaves, you may want to consider mulching them with your lawn mower. This adds nutrients to your lawn and helps to prevent thatch buildup.
By following these five tips, you can keep your lawn looking its best all winter long and avoid headaches when the weather finally begins to warm up again. Take advantage of the cooler weather by ensuring your yard is in premium condition.
Esham Inspections offers inspection services to homebuyers and sellers in Maryland and Delaware. Contact us to request an appointment.