Williston, Here Are The Best Things For Your Yard This Fall

Fall is officially here. Did you know it's the best time of year for lawn care?  Giving your lawn a little extra care now will help prepare it for the long winter ahead and jumpstart the growing process come spring.

Mow Less

As cooler weather approaches, you want to mow your yard less. Cool season grasses actively grow when air temperatures are between 55 and 75-degrees F. This is also a good time to lower your mower blade a notch at a time and allow longer periods of time between cutting. When temps go below 55 degrees F, grass growth slows, and you can stop mowing for the year. By keeping your lawn short as winter approaches, it will help reduce snow mold and other potential damage.

Aerate

Break out the power tools! You still have to aerate your lawn. Aerating is recommended every one to five years in our northern climate. If you have heavy foot traffic, your lawn would benefit from more frequent aeration. This step helps with soil compaction helps with water and nutrient absorption in soil, and helps smooth out bumpy lawns. You might not own this piece of equipment. They can be rented on a daily basis from your favorite rental store.

Dethatching

Thatch is the accumulation of decay-resistant roots and shoots under your lawn's healthy grass. Dethatching removes this accumulation. It is suggested only if your grass has more than 1.5 inches of thatch. Dethatching is not essential if it is lower.

Weed Control

After a strong frost, fall is the ideal season for controlling broadleaf weeds. The weeds are trying to take in as much nutrition as they can, storing it all in their roots until spring arrives. To significantly minimize the amount of broadleaf weeds in the following year, use the weed management technique of your choice right away. Use only herbicides for lawns. Read those labels carefully, and according to manufacturer instructions.

Remove Leaves

Mulching tree leaves is beneficial for your lawn, however raking and picking up the leaves would be preferable if there were more mulched leaves than actual grass. If there are only a few, the leaves will quickly disintegrate and feed the grass with nutrients.

Break Time!

There are other things you can do, but this is a good start to ensure a healthy lawn when spring finally arrives. After all the work, be sure to watch a football game here and there with some favorite foods and brews for a much needed break!