Important Fall Lawn Care Tips
by
Gabby Hyman All About Lawns Columnist
As the scorching summer heat draws to an end, it's a great time to plan for fall lawn care. Your grass has been a real trooper, surviving wicked temperatures, a ceaseless parade of barbecues, rough play, and the other rites of summertime lawn brutality. Now, more than ever, it's time to administer first aid, fertilizer, and broadleaf weed killers. It's a common misconception that once summer's over, your lawn won't need food for growth until spring. The truth is, if you feed your lawn before the chill of winter, you'll be surprised at the vibrant condition of your grass come next spring. Many people split fall lawn feedings into two fertilizer sessions: one in early fall and the other just before the first cold snap.
Tips for Successful Fall Lawn Care Why would you fertilize grass for the winter? Lawns experience significant underground root growth through the colder months. It may not look busy topside -- or at all, if you get snow -- but your lawn is busy below the surface. Consider fertilizers high in nitrogen and potassium for fall feeding. If you are confused, contact your local lawn service or home improvement store.
Now that temperatures are cooling, don't think for a moment that your lawn won't need watering. It needs water to saturate the fertilizer and foster root propagation. Continue aerating and watering your lawn if the fall doesn't bring regular rainfall to your area. If you plan on using broadleaf weed killer, give it ample time to drop those bandits before temperatures descend below 50 degrees.
Fall is also a good time to invest in a garden rake. If you let dead leaves bury your lawn, they'll cut off vital sunlight at the precise moment that fertilizer is heading down into the root system to stimulate growth. Some people prefer mulching the leaves to add nutritional soil value as the lawn recuperates from summer wear and tear.
Follow these fall lawn care tips and you can have a healthy, green lawn come springtime.
About the Author
Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for
Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems,
Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.
|
