Caring For Autumn Lawns - Lawn Care Tips For The Fall

The following fall tasks help cool-season lawns flourish:

1. Test your soil. Fall soil testing helps take the guesswork out of managing your lawn's soil pH and nutrition. ...
2. Feed your lawn. ...
3. Overseed thin lawns. ...
4. Repair bare spots. ...
5. Remove excess thatch. ...
6. Aerate compacted soil. ...
7. Keep watering. ...
8. Keep mowing.

1. What should you put on your lawn in the fall?
2. How do I take care of my lawn in autumn?
3. How do I prepare my lawn for fall and winter?
4. When's the best time to fertilize your lawn in the fall?
5. What should I put on my lawn in September?
6. Can I overseed my lawn in October?
7. Can I put grass seed down in September?
8. Can you fertilize lawn in autumn?
9. What should I do to my lawn in November?
10. Is it better to leave your lawn long or short for winter?
11. When should I stop watering my lawn in the fall?
12. What is the best winter fertilizer for lawns?
13. Is it too late to fertilize my lawn in October?
14. What is the best fertilizer for lawns in fall?
15. When should I reseed my lawn in the fall?
16. Can I aerate my lawn in September?
17. How do I treat my lawn for weeds in the fall?
18. Can you just sprinkle grass seed on lawn?
19. Is there a bad time to aerate your lawn?
20. How long does it take for grass seed to germinate in October?
21. Can you aerate and overseed in October?

What should you put on your lawn in the fall?

Here are eight fall lawn care steps that'll help make your lawn dazzle next year:

1. Keep mowing. ...
2. Water when needed. ...
3. Rake often. ...
4. Now is the time to think about aeration. ...
5. Apply a nitrogen-rich fertilizer. ...
6. Seed to fill in bare and burned spots. ...
7. Keep up with lawn pest control. ...
8. Keep a Tight Schedule.

How do I take care of my lawn in autumn?

Feed

1. To finish off, perk up tired lawns by giving them a feed. Use an autumn lawn fertiliser, which is high in phosphates and potash. ...
2. Don't be tempted to use a spring fertiliser. ...
3. If your lawn is in a hosepipe ban area, wait until you've had some decent rain and the grass is actively growing before carrying out any work.

How do I prepare my lawn for fall and winter?

Winter Lawn Care Tips

1. Aerate & Fertilize. Just before your area's first expected frost date, head out to your lawn and aerate. ...
2. Avoid Too Much Lawn Traffic. When your lawn is frosted or dormant, try to avoid walking on it too much. ...
3. Treat Ice Wisely. ...
4. Prepare While You Can.

When's the best time to fertilize your lawn in the fall?

Apply fall lawn fertilizer 2 to 3 weeks before the ground freezes. To find an exact date, look for the first frost date in your area. That date is typically a good time to fertilize since the ground hasn't frozen yet. More generally, mid-October is a good time to apply lawn fertilizer.

What should I put on my lawn in September?

Fertilize September is the optimal time to fertilize a lawn. Use a high nitrogen maintenance fertilizer (typically a green-up product). Wait until October to apply a high nitrogen fertilizer if you applied a Step 3 product earlier in the summer. Keep checking for grubs.

Can I overseed my lawn in October?

It is more risky to start in October because you never know what the weather is going to do. If it stays warm through the month, newly seeded grass will have some time to become established. ... One option for this time of year is to overseed directly into the existing turf.

Can I put grass seed down in September?

Grass seed is best sown from late summer to mid-autumn; there is less competition from weeds, and the soil is warm, and damp from rain. Perfect for seeds to germinate. If you miss the opportunity to sow in autumn, try in mid-spring, but only if you can give the new grass plenty of water.

Can you fertilize lawn in autumn?

Fertilise: If you only feed your lawn once a year, do it in Spring; if you only fertilise twice a year, do it in Spring and Autumn. Feeding now will green your lawn up ahead of winter also make it stronger and better able to resist damage from extreme cold, even frost.

What should I do to my lawn in November?

6 Tips to Get Your Lawn Ready for Fall

1. Keep on Mowing. Continue to water and mow your lawn, as needed, throughout the fall. ...
2. Aerate the Soil. ...
3. Rake the Leaves. ...
4. Fertilize for Future Growth. ...
5. Fill in Bald Spots. ...
6. Weed Control.

Is it better to leave your lawn long or short for winter?

Cut your lawn to possibly the shortest height you have all season. The ideal height is around 2 1/2 inches. Cut it too low and the grass might not be long enough to photosynthesize and provide nutrients to the roots. Too high and the frost might become matted after a snowfall.

When should I stop watering my lawn in the fall?

When to Stop Watering Your Lawn in the Fall

1. Continue to provide supplemental moisture as needed until the ground is frozen.
2. If your area receives one inch or more of precipitation per week you don't need to water.
3. Fungal diseases may take hold if your lawn is overwatered.
4. During times when the weather is warm and dry, continue to water a few times a week.

What is the best winter fertilizer for lawns?

Commercial winterizer fertilizers usually contain higher levels of potassium and lower levels of nitrogen than early-season “turf building” type fertilizers. For example, Scotts WinterGuard fertilizer has an N-P-K number of 24-2-14 while their standard Turf Builder is 29-2-4.

Is it too late to fertilize my lawn in October?

Applying fertilizer in late August or early September, however, will add nutrients that help the grass to overcome summer stresses. Another application of slow-release fertilizer in late October to early November will promote earlier green-up in the spring, without the excessive shoot growth that can be damaging.

What is the best fertilizer for lawns in fall?

While this fall lawn fertilizer dose is important, an application at the end of October or early November is essential. At that time, apply a fertilizer with a formula of 13-25-12. The push of phosphorus will stimulate root growth through November and even into early December.

When should I reseed my lawn in the fall?

Early fall is the very best time to reseed. Soil temperatures are still warm, which is necessary for optimum seed germination, and cooler air temperatures are better for grass growth. There will also be fewer weeds for the grass to compete with at this time of the year.

Can I aerate my lawn in September?

September: Time to Core Aerate Cool Season Lawn

It naturally wants to grow and thrive. This is why it is important we give the grass what it needs to fully recover from the stress of summer. September is a good time to aerate your lawn as part of a healthy maintenance program.

How do I treat my lawn for weeds in the fall?

Control this prickly weed with a fall application of a pre-emergent herbicide. For perennial weeds such as Plantain, Dandelion, Knotweed and Clover, apply a post-emergent herbicide in fall to send the killing chemicals directly to roots. This treatment will help reduce the numbers of these weeds in spring.

Can you just sprinkle grass seed on lawn?

If you simply toss the grass seed onto the soil, you will end up with poor germination. ... Next, you can use a lawn spreader to put down the grass seed. Very little soil is actually needed to cover the seeds, typically about ¼- inch, so simple raking will do the trick.

Is there a bad time to aerate your lawn?

When to Aerate Your Lawn

Never aerate dormant lawns. For cool-season grasses common in northern lawns, early fall or early spring are the best times for aerating. For warm-season grasses common to southern lawns, the best time for aerating is late spring or very early summer.

How long does it take for grass seed to germinate in October?

The seeds will take two to four weeks to sprout and during this time the ground should be kept damp. Proper watering one to two times a day is essential for a new lawn.

Can you aerate and overseed in October?

For warm-season grasses, once the summer heat has arrived it is too late. The new grass will not be able to take root. For cool-season grasses, late October on is too late to overseed. Again, wait until the next year for the best results.