Fall Lawn Care Tips

Fall is here and cooler temperatures are fast approaching! The change in season brings new opportunities to help improve the health of your lawn. Below we have outlined a few ways to help your lawn look great this fall and also how to avoid making a few common mistakes.

1. Seed at the right time

The perfect time to seed in New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania is late August through September. This gives enough time for the seed to germinate and the young plants to develop a root system prior to going into winter dormancy.

In addition, seed germination slows down once the soil temperatures dip below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Historically, after September the temperatures begin to drop and we see a decrease in germination rates. That’s another reason why it’s important to seed at the right time, before temperatures get too cold.

2. Buy the right seed

If you are going to spend the money on seeding your lawn, it’s important to get the right type of grass. Ask yourself, do the areas I’m seeding get a lot of shade, or a lot of sun? Those answers will help you determine the right type of seed to purchase. If it’s in the sun, purchase a sun mix, if it’s in the shade, get a shade mix.

The generic “Sun & Shade Mixes” are a blend of sun loving grass varieties as well as other varieties that really prefer the shade. These blends will look fine in the fall and spring when temperatures are cool, but in the summer heat, you’ll easily notice the plants that are not in their preferred environment.

In our service area we recommend turf type tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass for the areas of your lawn that get sun and fine fescues for areas predominantly in shade.

3. Apply a winterizing fertilizer

A winterizing fertilizer is important for cool season turf varieties, which is the type of grass we have here in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The winterizing fertilizer provides nutrients that the plants will continue to utilize well into the fall. It will also help the turf come out of winter dormancy and green up when the soil temperatures are warm enough the following spring.

4. Aerate your lawn

Core aeration is a very important cultural practice for lawns with clay-based soil. Between the summer stresses of drought and disease, and everyday activities that lead to soil compaction; core aeration is a mechanical process that can help combat these issues.

Soil compaction and heavy thatch build up can greatly reduce the flow of water and nutrients into the soil, leading to poor nutrient uptake and root development. During times of stress, like the hot and dry summer, plants with a poor root system will be less tolerant to stress and more susceptible to disease. For residential lawns, we recommend core aerating your lawn every other year to reduce soil compaction and encourage root development.

Conclusion

The fall is a great time to help your lawn recover from the summer heat. If you plan on seeding, be sure to do it at the right time and with the right type of seed to improve your odds of long-term success. Some great cultural practices in the fall to promote recovery and improve plant health include fertilizing and aerating your lawn. If you are in our service area, and have any questions about the information about seeding, fertilizing and core aerating, please give our office a call to discuss!