It’s time to officially welcome fall in Kansas City, and if your lawn is showing patches of wear and tear after a summer of cookouts and impromptu football games, it’s time to give it some TLC.
Fall is prime time for seeding to grow or thicken your grass and planting fall plants and winter bulbs. So, whether you’re looking to spruce up your existing yard or you want to plant a brand new lawn, we’re here to help. Keep reading for the Do’s and Don’ts of fall lawn care.
Related Read: 3 Things You Must Do NOW to Get a Healthier Lawn Next Spring
Fall Lawn Care Do’s
- DO read the label when buying seed. A label that reads anything but “0.00% weeds and 0.00% other crop” ensures a weedy future. Also, make sure you’re buying the right type of grass type for your climate.
- DO keep up with watering even though the temperatures are falling. It might seem like the heat from the sun has stopped drying up your plants, but fall weather can be just as drying on the soil. Keep your lawn protected against wind and typical autumn drought conditions.
Related Read: How to Adjust Your Sprinkler System for Fall
- DO remove leaves. Think of it like leaving a pile of damp laundry in your laundry room for months (yuck!). Help prevent your lawn from getting disease during dormant months by clearing your grass from debris. This lets sunlight and air into the roots to keep the greens fresh and healthy.
Fall Lawn Care Don’ts
- Don’t skip fertilizer treatments in the fall! This cuts your best chance for recovery next year. Instead, use a fertilizer with slow release formula to continuously feed your lawn nutrients. A granular fertilizer is a good choice.
- Don’t use just any seed mixture. Mixes of a little bit of everything might give you some of what you want, but also a lot of what you don’t. Steer clear of labels that are vague about what seed varieties are included. Leaving your lawn up to chance is risky and could result in a blend of cheap grasses and poor quality.
- Don’t try to aerate your lawn on your own, leave this to the pros. If done incorrectly, aeration can tear up the roots and damage your yard. Leave this to our professionals to take care of your grass if aeration is necessary. They’ll have the proper tools for your lawn and know the best methods. Bonus: you don’t have to go over it again for clean up, they’ll take care of it start to finish!
- Don’t verticut your overgrown lawn without mowing it first. This will leave you with LOTS of leftover mess, and you’ll be bagging it up for what will seem like ages. For best results, water your lawn a few days before you want to verticut, then mow it on a low setting. If your mower doesn’t catch clippings, rake them up to start with a nice clean lawn. Then, let the verticutter do its job.
- Don’t plant more area than you can water or you’ll end up wasting a lot of time trying to water the large space. Even worse, it will cost a lot more money than maintaining a smaller area. Before you plant, calculate the time and resources you are hoping to spend on your grass, and keep it realistic. Your lawn AND your wallet will stay greener.
- Don’t use seed that comes with its own mulch. You’ll be much better off scattering natural compost, peat moss or hay in a thin layer so you don’t choke out the new seedlings.
Happy planting!
