Fall Lawn Care

After the hot days of summer, many lawns are in need of repair. Fall is the perfect time to plant a new lawn, renovate an existing lawn or ensure the health of your lawn next season. Fall’s cooler air temperatures, warm soil temperatures and consistent rainfall are ideal for lawn establishment or renovation. And, by next spring your lawn will be lush and healthy.

Seeding

Grass seed germinates quickly in early fall and whether you are establishing a new lawn or reseeding bare patches, now is the time to do it. First, make sure you start with high quality grass seed. Seed type will depend on the amount of sun/shade and foot traffic. When reseeding bare patches, first remove all dead or unhealthy grass from within and around each spot. With a spade, mix in a 2 to 3 inch layer of Bumper Crop (organic material) and some Seed-Starting Fertilizer. Tamp down the soil so it is level with the surrounding earth. Sprinkle grass seed sparingly over the spot and rake the seed about 1/8" down. Tamp the soil again, then water. Cover the spot with a little straw to retain moisture.

Starting A New Lawn

When starting a new lawn, add Bumper Crop (organic material) and Jonathan Green Seed Starting Fertilizer as above and mix or till into the top 6" of soil. Rake earth level and smooth. Seed can be sown by hand, but a lawn spreader does the job more evenly. Lightly rake seed into surface and cover with a thin layer of straw. The first watering should be thorough, thereafter keep the area moist by watering lightly and gently while seed is germinating. Seed should sprout within 2 to 3 weeks. After germinating, lawns should be watered infrequently but deeply. Avoid daily watering as this will encourage shallow root development. When grass is 3 - 4" tall, it is ready for the first mowing.

Fertilizing

Established lawns should be fertilized twice during the fall. The first application should be early to late September when the weather has started to cool. Use a high nitrogen fertilizer like Stagreen Fall Fertilizer. The second feeding with Stagreen Fall Fertilizer should be applied six to eight weeks after the first. This time, a fertilizer higher in phosphorus and potassium is recommended. Phosphorus promotes root growth and potassium helps your lawn with cold tolerance and disease resistance. No fertilizer is effective if the pH or acidity of the soil is too high or too low. Improper pH reduces the availability of nutrients to be taken up by the roots. Your soil should have a pH range of 6.0 - 7.0 for best results. Adjust with lime as needed.

Mowing

Mowing is a critical part of lawn care which is often overlooked. The biggest mistake is cutting the grass too short. Mow at a height of 2 1/2 - 3". Also, cut your lawn frequently, never removing more than 1/3 of the grass blade. If you wait too long between mowings you will stress the grass and it will thin out. Leave the clippings on the lawn – ‘grass cycling’ returns valuable nutrients to the soil. Lastly, keep your mower blade sharp. A dull blade shreds the plants instead of cutting them, leaving open tissue, which can be infected by disease.