Fall Tips for a Healthy Lawn
Fertilize in fall…feed the roots for spring! Better roots, more shoots!
Your lawn may not look like it’s growing during late fall and winter, but a lot is happening under the soil. Knowing what you need to do now will make a big difference in just a few months. This checklist will help you maintain a beautiful, livable lawn—so you will have a healthy lawn when spring rolls around again.
Feed your lawn now
When the weather gets cooler (between 55 and 65 degrees), your lawn concentrates on growing new roots and grass plants. This is the time to apply fertilizer, so you’ll have strong roots and more shoots in spring.
Leave grass clippings on your lawn
Grass clippings improve the soil by releasing nutrients as they decompose—with less risk of polluting runoff! In fact, by leaving grass clippings on the lawn, you can reduce the amount of fertilizer you ordinarily buy and use in a year by up to a third.
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Here’s what to do now
August
- Get rid of weeds before they go to seed.
- Reseed or renovate lawns in mid to late August.
September
- Ideal time to plant perennials, trees, and shrubs.
- Fertilize the lawn.
- Aerate the lawn.
October
- Fertilize the lawn. (If you used quick-release fertilizer last month)
- Great time to divide and move crowded perennials.
- Plant spring-flowering bulbs.
November
- Clean up the garden and put yard waste in the compost pile.
- Rake leaves from the lawn, shred them, and spread them on beds.
December
- Winterize lawnmowers and other equipment.
January
- Start making plans for spring!