Fall is in the air. You can feel the temperatures starting to drop and winter will be here before you know it. You are finally going to get a break from all the mowing and yardwork until next spring. Don’t start your happy dance yet. This is the time to start preparing your lawn for hibernation so when Spring comes your lawn will be lush and brilliant again. Here is some helpful information to help you prepare your lawn for the Winter months and a healthy and green Spring.
Rake Your Leaves
I know, this is the dreadful part of fall. The leaves are changing color and looking beautiful! You are drinking a warm cup of apple cider, snuggled up in your perfect blanket on the porch swing, and then it happens. Those darn leaves have to ruin the season and fall in your yard, and you know what that means, you now have to rake.
While raking seems like an endless pain, it is a necessity if you what that healthy grass again next year! The leaves collect the early morning dew and just sit wet and soggy smothering the grass underneath it and sheltering it from the sunlight. If you do not rack, the grass will become moldy and unhealthy.
Aerate the Soil
Some people often skip his step; however, this is very important to make sure that the soil is oxidizes and is less compacted resulting in that the roots grow that, and intake of nutrients is possible. Can you ever cooked spaghetti, and just let the noodles sit in the strainer while you prepared the sauce? When you go to dump the pasta, it still holds the form. That is what happens to your lawn. The dirt has just been getting impacted all season and making it hard for the roots to reach out and grow.
If you would like to make this process fun for the whole family, get a plywood or 2×4 board, hammer, and some 1” to 1”-1/2”nails and twine and make you own shoes. You can make these with the kids
as a fun project, and after you can have a dance party that involves moving around the yard! The best part is that the kids think its fun, and do not realize that you are putting them to work!
Fertilize Yard
Just like the last step this process this step is just as important. The grass that you currently have needs a nutrient booster. The summer has been long and hard on them just as much as it has on you. When fertilizing, you are applying the much-needed nutrients that your soil and seedlings need for growth. If you are wanting to get really detailed, you can perform a soil test to see all the nutrients that you are lacking, or you can just gat a balanced fertilized or a high phosphorous fertilizer for your lawn. Make sure that you read the instructions on the fertilizer before using.
Reseed Yard
Start looking for the bare spots in the lawn. This is the perfect time to start making those spots shine again. The summer is too hot to start reseeding that is why right now is perfect! You want to make sure you know what type of grass that you have in the yard and buy a good seed of the same variety.
You have already aerated the soil and the holes make it easier for the seeds to germinate faster since the moisture of the hole will keep your seeds from drying out. Make sure that you read your seed bag for properly distribution of the seeds and that you are not overcrowding. This will result in your growth not yielding.
Water Lawn in Fall
I know that you were thinking that you could start winterizing your sprinkler system or preparing your hoses for the winter, but not quite yet. One important thing to keep in mind is that your yard is about to hibernate and right now it is trying to absorb moisture and nutrients for the winter slumber. You need to keep your yard and plants watered until the week before the first freeze is expected.
Hire a Professional?
Let’s admit something, we all have a busy life. If you do not have the time to reseed your yard, or you just don’t want to do it, no one is going to blame you for hiring someone. I would recommend that you ask around and shop local. Call a landscaping company and see if they have availability or if they recommend someone.