Fall Lawn Fertilizing
Fall is the perfect time to do some yard maintenance and fertilize your lawn. Fall morning dew provides much-needed moisture to your grass and helps it absorb the fertilizer, giving your grass time to gain strength before the cold winter months.
- Most lawns in the Midwest have cool-season grasses, such as ryegrass, fescue and bluegrass. It's best to fertilize these types of grasses in September, October or November.
- Fertilize warm-season grasses, such as Bermuda, Bahia, centipede, St. Augustine and Zoysia in July, August or September. Don't overfertilize centipede grasses, since fertilizer contains high nitrogen levels that can cause this type of grass to become susceptible to disease.
- Specially formulated winterizing fertilizers have more potassium than regular lawn food. Potassium is the nutrient that makes grasses more winter hardy, so you're less likely to have reseed spots in spring. Apply winterizers as the last fertilizer application of the growing season.
When using fall lawn fertilizer, herbicide or other lawn-care products, always follow package directions regarding proper clothing, protective equipment, application procedures and safety precautions. This helpful video shows you how to properly use a fertilizer spreader.
Controlling Lawn Diseases, Weeds and Insects
To help prevent lawn diseases during the fall and winter, remove leaves from your yard. Leaves left on the lawn encourage disease by preventing sunlight and air from reaching the grass. Use a rake or blower to collect the leaves and add them to a compost pile. Or you can go over them with a mulcher or mulching mower and chop them into a fine compost for your grass.
For weed control during the winter months, apply a pre-emergent weed killer. Some products feature a combination fertilizer and weed killer called weed and feed.
Fall Lawn Mowing and Composting
Tackle your fall lawn care by mowing, composting and mulching. Mowing your lawn slightly shorter in the fall stops your grass from matting under heavy snow and leaves, while mulching and composting protect your lawn against temperature and moisture changes.
- Mulching is when you put a protective layer of materials on the surface of your soil to improve fertility, retain heat, conserve moisture and reduce weed growth. The best times to mulch are early fall, spring and summer.
- For best results throughout the growing season, use a lawn mower that can easily convert from a mulcher to a bagging unit or leaf shredder.
- Get started on a home compost program. Save lawn waste (includes grass clippings, shredded leaves and chopped brush) for the compost bin.
Maintaining Cool-Season Grasses
If you have a cool-season lawn, there are some additional lawn-care tips to think about. Plug aeration (also known as core aeration) and spike aeration are two options for reducing soil compaction in your lawn, helping nutrients, oxygen and water reach the grass roots. Lawn thatch can also keep water and nutrients from reaching the grass roots. Fall is a great time to get rid of this layer of material in a cool-season lawn.
Aerate and dethatch warm-season lawns in the spring.
Winterizing a Warm-Season Lawn
With the first freeze, a warm-season lawn begins to change from green to brown. This period of dormancy is part of the natural life cycle of turfgrass. If you don't like an amber field, don't worry. Fall is a great time to overseed, or spread grass seeds over your dormant lawn with a cool-season grass so it maintains a green appearance.
Overseed with annual or perennial ryegrass or blends of cool-season grasses. Bermuda grass tolerates overseeding better than Zoysia, centipede or St. Augustine. Time the overseeding two to four weeks before the first killing frost. Annual ryegrass is popular because of its quick rate of germination. Perennial ryegrass is more tolerant of cold, disease and drought.
Using Ground Covers as Lawn Options
There are options for locations in your yard that may be too shady or moist to grow healthy grass. Fall is a great time to plant perennial ground covers, such as mondo grass, liriope and juniper, to fill the void. They'll cover the area year-round and reduce the amount of grass you have to maintain.