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How to prepare your lawn for fall this year

Hemingway once said: "America is the land of wide lawns and narrow minds." Now, I do not know about narrow minds, but we definitely love our lawns. Fall is one of the most important of the year to perform maintenance lawn.

The process you must follow depends on the type of grass on your lawn. The two main types of grasses grass is cold season and warm season. The main difference is that cool-season grasses require regular maintenance throughout the fall and winter, while warm season grasses need to be prepared for next spring. Common grasses are cool-season ryegrass, fescue, bluegrass and bentgrass. Common warm-season grasses include St. Augustinegrass, Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass and Buchloe. If you're not sure what type you have on your lawn, you can take a sample to your county extension and know what type you have. The most important thing to remember is that maintenance does not end when the grass stops growing.

The process of lawn care fall includes the following steps:

* Test Your soil
* Apply herbicides for weed control
* Water
* Fertilize
* Mow
* Streak
* Remove leaves and thatch
* Maintain equipment

Your Soil Test

The first thing you should do this season is to conduct a soil test for determine the nutrient levels, pH and other factors that influence the growth of your lawn. These results will help you understand what your soil needs this fall. If you need to reduce the acidity in your soil, you should apply lime. If the alkalinity should be reduced, then you must apply sulfur. The Cooperative Extension Service State universities usually conduct a soil test for a reasonable price. You can contact them or a local service to determine how to collect samples and where to send them.

To apply herbicides against poor herbs

Weeds in broadleaf start showing their ugly faces in the fall. Dandelion, plantain, clover and creeping Charlie are some perennial weeds that come out to play. If weeds are spread few and you can spot treat with herbicide. Products containing Spray make it easy to spot treatments. You must complete this task while temperatures remain above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Sure carefully assess the number and types of weeds in your lawn. It is not necessary to apply herbicides over your entire lawn unless if heavy infestation. Do not worry about crabgrass and other annual weeds such as grasses. They are controlled more effectively spring.

Water

Even if the temperatures are cooler and the growth of your lawn is to slow down, the lawn still needs to be watered. This is often one of the most neglected areas of lawn in the fall. Visions of cool fall weather and temperatures winter are often the cause of lawn owners to take a vacation and forget their lawns. But you must continue to water until the soil is cold and freezing temperatures are ahead. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you will need to use air compressed to blow the pipes and sprinkler heads before damage occurs from a gel.

Fertilizer

If you are a lawn fanatic like me, you can make two applications of fertilizer, both now and another in the closing stages of the fall (late October / early November). This will provide nutrients to your lawn over a long period of growth. Late season fertilization often causes lawns to Be the first to grow in spring. However, the longer you wait to fertilize, it is less likely to be beneficial. If in doubt, simply switch the application final. If your soil test indicates that your lawn has a shortage of phosphorus, then you may consider using a "type of winterizing" fertilizer. Otherwise, the remaining spring fertilizer or weed and feed fertilizer is sufficient. One last thing to avoid is fertilizer slow release. During this time of year, soil has a low level of microbial activity, which means it takes longer break fertilizer and make its nutrients available to grass.

Mow

You should continue to mow your lawn for throughout the fall until growth stops. It is important to keep your grass 2 "to 2 to 1 / 2 inch in height during fall. If your grass is too long, it will mat and the risk of lawn diseases like snow mold. However, if you cut too short (less than 2 "), you can decrease the ability the lawn to make and store food for growth in the spring.

Seed or sod

This is not always a necessary practice lawn care, but this time of year is the best time to build or repair a lawn seeding or sodding. Seeding and sodding should be completed as soon as possible before the arrival of cold weather in. If you are overseeding your lawn, you need scraping debris and dethatch your lawn if thatch is thicker than half an inch. This ensures that the grass seed will be as close to the ground as possible. You should also aim to keep the soil moist for several weeks while the seeds germinate.

Remove leaves and thatch

When the leaves begin to fall in autumn, it is important to remove them before they form a thick layer that can smother grass. Just sweep away often thatch your lawn, but in case of bad soil compaction, you may need a lawn aerator to make the core. If you have the money, and you are serious about lawn care, you may want to buy an aerator. Otherwise, you can simply rent one at the local hardware stores or garden supplies.

Maintain equipment

Lawn care equipment requires constant maintenance throughout, but the fall season involves a process more complete maintenance. Maintenance can save you tons of money and grief in the long term. Fall is the perfect time to perform an oil change in your mower. You should also drain the gas from your lawnmower or add a fuel stabilizer. Check your manual before to use a stabilizer, because she may void your warranty.

Remove the mower spark plug wrench with a candle. Lubricate the spark cylinders sheet with a teaspoon of oil through the hole. Install a new spark plug, but keep the wire-spark plug disconnected. Lubricate if necessary, especially the rear height adjustment on a self-propelled mower.

You should check your plates and screws on the device to seal. You should also verify and possibly refine your mower blade. After completing these steps, store the mower in a clean, dry area away from sources of ignition possible.

Final Thoughts

Following the fall lawn care practices described in this article will prepare your lawn for winter and reward you with a healthy, thriving lawn in the spring.