Maintaining a beautiful lawn is a source of pride for many homeowners (me), and it’s no secret that a lush Spring lawn starts with proper care in the Fall.
In a recent Youtube video I made titled “The TRUTH about FALL Lawn Care that the PROS know. (5 STEPS),” I share my valuable insights into Fall lawn care. Let’s dive into the main points of my Fall lawn routine to uncover the secrets the pros swear by.
Here are the steps for a perfect Fall lawn:
- Clearing the surface of your lawn
- Mowing at the right height
- Aerating your lawn with a core aerator (you can rent from Home Depot)
- Overseeding with a spreader
- Implementing weed control and a consistent watering schedule
Too late? Already November? Check out our guide for getting green grass in November.
Clear the surface of your yard of debris
I cannot overemphasize the importance of clearing the surface of your lawn. This means removing debris, sticks, dog poop, leaves, and any clutter that may have accumulated over the summer.
A clean surface provides a fresh start for your lawn as your grass prepares to enter the dormant winter phase. This step takes a few minutes, but its impact on your lawn’s health is invaluable.
Pro tip: You can clean up the leaves and shred them into a mulch using a leaf mulcher.
Mowing lower before aerating and overseeding
One of the sneakiest but most crucial steps for maintaining a healthy lawn in the Fall is proper mowing. In my video I delve into the importance of mowing at the right height. The pros recommend gradually lowering your mower blade height with each cut as fall progresses.
This technique ensures that your grass doesn’t become too long and susceptible to diseases like snow mold. Additionally, I recommend not removing more than one-third of the grass blade’s height in a single mowing session to maintain the lawn’s vitality.
Aerating the lawn with a core aerator
Aeration is a key practice that helps your lawn breathe. Aerating your lawn involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow nutrients, water, and air to penetrate the roots. Aeration is essential in reducing soil compaction and thatch, both of which can hinder your lawn’s growth. This step is essential for ensuring that your grass receives the nourishment it needs to thrive.
You can pair this step with dethatching, which is the process of removing thatch (dead grass) from your lawn’s surface. Combined, these two will allow your lawn to become fully oxygenated and receive sunlight and nutrients that give you.. You can read more about my experience with dethatchers here.
Pro tip: You can rent this thing from Home Depot (like I did) for super cheap.
Overseeding your lawn
Overseeding is a vital aspect of fall lawn care to ensure that your grass grows back thick. Thick grass chokes out and prevents weeds and invasive grasses from taking root in your yard. The best defense is a good offense.
I suggest overseeding in the Fall to fill in any bare patches and encourage thick, lush growth. In my video, I explain exactly how I use my spreader in my yard to ensure that I get sufficient, even coverage of seed.
Pro tip: Follow my pattern above for ensuring even coverage throughout your yard.
Weed Control and Watering Schedules
The final steps in achieving a beautiful Fall lawn that sets you up for a beautiful spring lawn involve weed control and setting up a proper watering schedule. My video goes into detail about the types of herbicides and weed control products to use in the fall to prevent weeds from taking over your lawn during the winter.
I also share insights into the importance of keeping a consistent watering schedule: I recommend deep, infrequent watering rather than shallow, frequent watering, which can encourage shallow root growth.
Final words: My Fall Lawn Routine
By following these professional tips, you can ensure that your lawn thrives during the fall and emerges in the spring as a vibrant, healthy carpet of green. Don’t neglect your lawn this fall; follow these expert recommendations to enjoy a stunning lawn when warmer days return.