There’s a lot to fall in love with during autumn. The trees are painted with orange and yellow, the smell of fresh-cut wood fills the crisp air, and it’s the time of year for football, picking apples and pumpkin-flavored treats (yum!).
While fall has a lot of positives to offer, it also comes with a long laundry list for lawn care. After all, what you do in the fall has a profound impact on how well your lawn recovers from the summer and perseveres through the winter.
With that in mind, here’s a helpful guide for how to care for your lawn in the fall.
Raking Leaves
A blanket of fall leaves may add a lot of beauty and color to your outdoor space, but it can also trigger the growth of lawn fungus. That’s because a mat of leaves will block out sunlight and trap in moisture — an environment where disease tends to thrive. Raking or blowing off leaves (and other debris) from your lawn on a regular basis will combat this issue and let your grass breathe.
Mowing Lawn
Height matters when you mow your lawn. Grass that is too long is susceptible to lawn fungus, and grass that is too short stunts root growth. To see optimal results, raise your lawnmower to its highest setting and continue to mow until the first frost hits.
An added bonus: you’ll grind up the leftover leaves and funnel soil-enriched mulch into your grass. (Tip: Be careful you don’t pick up too many leaves as they can become trapped in the mower and compromise its performance.)
Lawn Fertilization
Fall calls for fertilizers. Fertilizing your lawn in early fall helps repair your lawn from the harsh summer heat, while the second feeding in late fall helps protect grass roots from the frigid cold. Aside from mild temperatures, this season also brings the added benefit of morning dew, which makes it easier for grass to absorb the nutrients in fertilizers.
Winterize Sprinkler System
Just as your plants need to be protected from the ice and snow of winter, the same can be said for your sprinkler system. But rather than wrapping plants in burlap, sprinkler systems require a different barrier from winter conditions: appropriately named winterization.
The winterization of a sprinkler system refers to draining your system by shutting off the main water valve and opening all the manual drain valves. This prevents water from freezing in pipes and bursting — a potentially costly scenario for homeowners.
For members of Green Impressions Irrigation Club, winterizing a sprinkler system is included as part of their services. We’ll also activate your valves, inspect and test backflow and perform routine check-ups to ensure your system is running at its optimal performance.
Like every season, the fall comes with its own unique lawn and landscape care needs. If you follow these tips, your spring cleanup will be seamless!
