Learn four essential tips to get your lawn ready for fall.
Summer is almost over, and with the start of every new season comes a new checklist for lawn maintenance. With the cooler temperatures and lead up to the harsh winter elements, it’s crucial to start preparing your landscape for next spring now! Continue reading for a few essential tips on how to get your lawn ready for fall.
Continue Mowing
Many homeowners think that lawns need less care in the fall than in the summer, but this is not true. Your turf will be absorbing energy, moisture, and nutrients to prepare for the winter, so you should continue to give it attention in order to have a healthy spring lawn. Continue to water deeply and infrequently and mow your lawn as needed throughout the season. Remember to not mow off more than one-third of the grass blade length at any one time.
Aeration
Aeration of lawns is a necessary and often overlooked cultural practice. Turfgrass roots need air in order to thrive. Fall is an excellent time of year to aerate your lawn to allow oxygen, water, and fertilizer to reach the grass’s roots.
Raking Leaves
Removing leaves is crucial for keeping your lawn healthy. If you wait too long to remove fallen leaves from your lawn, the leaves can become wet and stick together. This creates a mat that suffocates the grass and breeds fungal diseases. Most leaves can be mulched and left to filter into the lawn’s soil. When leaf drop is heavy, you may need to use a rake or lawnmower with a collection bag or vacuum system. Be sure to remove the leaves as quickly as possible this season!
Fertilize and Lime
Most lawn experts agree that the best time to fertilize your lawn is in the fall. This is because grass leaves grow slower in cooler temperatures, but the grass roots continue to grow. An application of fertilizer in the fall delivers essential nutrients for the grass to grow deep roots and to build carbohydrate reserves for the spring. The best time to fertilize is late summer through fall. It is important to have your soil tested to determine if any nutrient or pH adjustments are needed.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately-owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborist specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a lawn and total landscape care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington DC, and Virginia, including Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, and Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!