Fall efforts produce beautiful spring lawns
Contrary to popular belief, fall is the best time of the year for lawn care.
Fertilization, weed and thatch control, establishment of new lawns, and re-building poor quality lawns should be done during the next few weeks.
Landscape professionals recommend cool season grasses like fescue should be fertilized now. By fertilizing in fall, lawns will improve and have fewer weeds in spring.
The first feeding usually provides dramatic improvement in the lawn as it recovers from summer damage. The real improvement comes with the second slow-release feeding or winterizing.
Late October or early November is an ideal time for the second fall feeding. It will give grass everything it needs to prepare for winter.
A top quality "winterizing" fertilizer will have slow-release nitrogen that stimulates uniform growth and is less likely to burn the grass.
The roots will store the nitrogen and will continue to develop until the ground freezes.
When spring comes, the grass can quickly tap the stored nutrients to provide a beautiful lawn.
Continue to fertilize grass until it goes dormant for the winter, but watering may be needed after fertilizing.
If grass is brown, fertilizing will not be helpful.
A healthy lawn is the best weed prevention. September and October are the best months to control perennial broadleaf weeds and fall weeds like henbit and chickweed.
Weeds absorb nutrients from their leaves to store during winter. They also draw herbicides into the roots which quickly kills weeds.
Fall also is the time to kill crabgrass.
When crabgrass goes to seed, spray it with crabgrass preventer. Do not reseed the lawn after applying the chemical because the active ingredients that prevent crabgrass seeds from germinating also will prevent grass seed from germinating.
Removing thatch, a buildup of dead grass and root, will help grass thrive in the spring. To check the amount of thatch, cut three or four inches deep in the grass with a shove and lift a piece of sod. If buildup is more than one-half inch, the lawn should be aerated or de-thatched.
September and October also are ideal times for planting grass seed to either establish a new lawn or re-seed a spotty lawn.
During these months, grass grows rapidly in cool weather, and has less competition from germinating weeds.
Use a high quality grass seed and don't forget to water. The seeds and seedlings will need to be kept moist for about six weeks. A starter fertilizer will help establish strong root growth, and the grass can be fertilized about a month after it starts to grow with a winterizing fertilizer.
A little extra effort on the lawn this fall will produce positive results in the spring.
