Autumn is one of the most crucial times for developing a healthy green lawn that lasts all year round. There are things you can do to ensure your lawn still looks good by winter’s end.
Aerate Your Lawn
A green lawn is a great hangout spot where children play and pets roll around. After, you may notice the ground might feel hard. That’s because the soil is being compacted, pressed down, by the general activity. Compacted soil is less breathable and water retainable, this makes it difficult for roots to absorb the water and nutrients they need, giving them little room to grow. The best solution for this is to aerate your lawn. Punch holes in the ground to loosen up the soil. These holes can go as deep as three inches, allowing oxygen, water, and fertilizer to pass into the ground. This helps nourish the grass. Repeat the process for several seasons and you’ll see a big improvement.
Seed Your Lawn
Sometimes bald patches appear in your lawn. They usually form in places where there is too little light or where you left a ten gallon bucket sitting out. These patches are an invitation for weeds to sprout up and they steal nutrients from the rest of the lawn. You need to reseed the bald area of the lawn as soon as possible; fall is a great time to get started on this project.
Prevent Weeds
The presence of weeds is a sign that your soil isn’t doing as well as it could be. Weeds require constant vigilance, they tend to crop up the very second you turn. Fall is a great time to use broadleaf herbicides because the chemicals are able to seep down to the roots. Broadleaf herbicides act like the immune system of your lawn, selectively attacking and destroying weeds.
Watering Your Lawn
Did know that dragging the hose from out back and spraying the entire yard may damage your lawn? Unless you plan to water consistently, wait for the rain or invest in an irrigation system. Experts suggest giving your lawn 1 inch of water once a week. This infrequent and deep watering encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil, improving the health and overall look of the grass. Of course, the 1-inch rule varies according to the climate of your area, as well the type of grass.
Mowing Your Lawn
There are many benefits of mowing your lawn, but there are certain ways of mowing that help your lawn. The roots of grass tend to grow to the same length as their blades. If you mow the grass really short, the roots will not grow as deep into the soil. Also, taller grass holds more moisture and stays greener than shorter grass. Shade the soil to keep roots wet and prevent weeds from taking advantage.
What’s the right way to mow?
First, set your mower deck to about 2-3 inches, this keeps the grass blades from being too short, which helps the roots. Make sure that you mow about 2 weeks to let the grass recuperate. This way you give the grass a chance to reinforce their roots and shade out weeds. Make sure that the mower’s blades are sharp, dull blades leave jagged tears in the grass, sapping them of moisture. Don’t rake up grass clippings, spread them out and let them decompose. This way the nutrients go back into the soil for the roots to soak up.
Fertilize Your Lawn
One of the best choices you can make in regards to lawn care is using natural or organic fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers can acidify the soil, repelling earthworms that contribute to your lawn’s health. They can also damage your lawn. Fertilize your lawn during the fall season; this is the time when roots soak up everything that comes their way. Fertilizer will give your lawn extra nutrients to store during the coming winter months.
Raking Leaves
Raking needs to be done if you want to keep your lawn healthy and green. If the blanket of foliage is wet or damp, it can smother the grass underneath, causing fungus to grow. Don’t wait until all leaves are on the ground before you decide to rake. Follow these steps to improve your lawn this fall; you may be surprised at how your hard work pays off come springtime.
