De- stress Let your lawn recover; best time to fertilize before the autumn freeze
Fall, when the cool season grasses are actively growing, is also the best time to core aerate or dethatch lawns suffering from thatch build up or compacted soil. Overseed thin lawns after core aeration or dethatching. You’ll have better results once the thatch layer is removed or openings exist for the grass seeds to contact the soil and sprout.
Nowis the time to help lawns recover from summer stress. Let the weather and the condition of your lawn help you develop a plan suited to your landscape. Continue mowing actively growing lawns. Mow high, leaving cool season grasses like bluegrass and fescues at least 2½ preferably 3½ inches tall after cutting.
Warm season grasses like bermudagrass, carpetgrass, centipedegrass and zoysia should be grown at 1 to 2 inches tall, while St. Augustine shouldabithigher at 2 to 3 inches for best results. Taller grass is better able to competewithweeds, is more drought tolerant and less susceptible to insects and disease.
Mow often, removing no more than one third the totalheight. Leave short clippingsonthe lawn.
They will quickly break down, adding organic matter, moisture and nutrients to the soil. Run your mower over long clippings to reduce their size and speed decomposition.
As the tree leaves begin to fall justmow them into small pieces and leave them on the lawn. As long as you can see the grass blades through the shredded leaves your lawn will be fine. And just like the clippings, they add nutrients and organic matter to the soil.
It’s best to fertilize lawns in early September and again around Halloween, but always before the ground freezes. Make sure the last fertilizer application to warmseason grasses is at least one month prior to the average first killing frost.
A healthy lawn is the best defense against weeds. Even with proper care these unwanted plants can bully their way into your lawn. Try digging, root andall, to remove smallpopulations of weeds. Think of it as a workout or way to reduce stress.
If you decide to use a weed killer, try spot treating weeds or problem areas to minimize the