Cooler weather is fast approaching and if you live in the Midwest or points North, your lawn will soon begin to spread its root system in preparation for the cold winter.

If you’re like me, you may want to give your turf a little assistance so it looks all that much better come spring.

Here are Four Tasks That Will Help Your Lawn This Fall

Aeration
I recommend every lawn be aerated in September to help manage thatch levels and loosen hardened and compacted soil. Thatch is the layer of dead grass, leaves and other organic material that collects just above the soil line.

Moderate levels of thatch are necessary to keep turf root systems shaded and reduce soil erosion and water runoff. However, too much thatch (more than 1″) can hinder water absorption and cause grass roots to form shallow.

Aeration will manage the thatch layer by punching holes in it without completely eliminating it like a power-raking or de-thatching would do. I DO NOT recommend power raking except in extreme cases.

You can rent an aerator from your favorite home improvement store for about $60 per day and I’d recommend running across your lawn twice. (north and south and then east and west) If this is a bit steep in price for you, consider getting your neighbors to pitch in and share the time and the effort.
You can also call a Detroit area lawn care company to aerate the lawn for you, as well as have them spread fresh grass seed in the lawn afterwards.

Mowing In the Fall
It is never a good idea to cut your lawn too short. I tell customers to set their mower wheels on the second-to-highest setting to be safe. During the cooler months after summer, you should actually go up one setting higher so as not to stimulate the lawn to grow on top. We want all the energy generated through photosynthesis to be directed to new root production in the turf. Keeping the grass tall allows more leaf area to soak up the sun during shorter days.

Fall Fertilizatoin
One you’ve completed the above, it’s time to hit the lawn with a nice dose of fertilizer to assist the root development.

Fall fertilization is a two-step process. First off, you should put down a very slow release form of nitrogen in early September. The best form of slow release nitrogen is Milorganite organic. This fertilizer will help maintain the lawn’s color during the cooler months without pushing extra growth. It is important you get the Milorganite down in September as this product relies on heat to breakdown and not moisture.

Secondly, you should apply a synthetic fertilizer blend containing high levels of potassium. These fertilizer blends will look like 10-10-10 and are sometimes referred to as ‘starter fertilizer.’ This step should be completed in later October and may be also called a ‘winterizer.’

Seeding
Fall is also a great time to introduce some fresh cultivars of grass seed into the lawn. A general overseeding directly after the aeration is recommended to help the overall thickness of the turf.

A rate of 1-pound seed per 1,000 square feet of lawn is going to be plenty. Also, since we’re in the Fall season, the rains and cooler temperatures will do the trick in keeping the seed moist. However, you should still water the lawn every-other-day for 10 days after you do a general overseeding.

A word of caution: don’t buy cheap seed! Look at the label on the back and see the percentage of “noxious weed seed” or “inert material.” Both of those together should be less than 3% of the total contents. The last thing we want to do is introduce weeds into the lawn in the fall.

Planting grass seed is not a super hard task. You’ll be safe adding Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass to most lawns, however, I am a fan of turf-type-tall fescue blends as they tolerate drought better. If you are not sure of the type of grass you have in your lawn, call your Dayton lawn service and ask them to help you identify your turf.

If you’ve let your lawn go this summer, and you’re wondering what to do, incorporate these tips starting now and I can assure you the results will be stunning. Remember, rejuvenation is always cheaper then starting completely over, and the cool fall is a great time to get going.

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