What To Do In Fall For A Greener Spring Lawn

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I'm glad you visited my website on landscaping. My name is Lucia Nash. I have a very busy and exciting garden. The feeder is always active with sparrows. We put a couple hummingbird feeders out and they visit us every summer. There are many types of birds that visit my yard. So many of my friends wonder why my yard is so busy with gorgeous animals, not the destructive kind, but the types that are just a pleasure to have around. The answer to that question is difficult to sum up in a few sentences, so I decided it was better to write blog posts on how to create a great yard.

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What To Do In Fall For A Greener Spring Lawn

3 October 2017
 Categories: , Blog


Fall is the perfect time to invest in some lawn renovation if you want greener grass next spring. In early to mid-fall, temperatures are cooler but the ground is still warm, which means you can work safely on your lawn but there isn't as much pressure from weeds and insects. The following can help you decide what to do at this time to improve your yard:

#1: Clean it up

Chances are you will be outside with a rake at this time, so why not go a little deeper. Once the fallen leaves are up, grab a long dethatching rake. Use this to vigorously rake up the layer of thatch that has formed between the base of the grass plants and the top of the soil. This layer of dead plant material can suffocate roots by blocking oxygen and moisture, especially if the layer is more than ¼ inch thick. If you only have a thin layer of thatch, you can skip this step.

#2: Improve the soil quality

A summer of mowing and daily use has likely been hard on your soil. Compaction prevents moisture from soaking into the ground, which then leads to dry spots. These compacted areas are also more prone to forming puddles as the winter snow melts in a few months, which can result in dead grass or snow mold. The solution is simple – aerate the lawn to loosen the soil, and then fill any low areas with compost or a compost and sand mix.

#3: Replenish the soil

There are fall fertilizer blends available but they are usually applied later in the season. For early fall, spreading ½ inch of compost over the soil using a fertilizer spreader works well. If you have a weed problem, this is also a good time to spread a pre-emergent weed killer since it can kill any seeds recently shed over the summer, before the seeds work deeply into the soil.

#4: Reseed bare areas

Don't leave areas bare over winter since this will just lead to a muddy mess and spring weed invasion. Hydroseeding in fall is a good idea. In hydroseed, the grass seeds are encased in a moisturizing, nutrient-rich gel, which helps them germinate quickly and healthfully. Have the mixture sprayed over any bare areas and within a couple of weeks you will have a rich green lawn in the bare areas.

For more help, talk to a lawn company near you.