FALL LAWN MAINTENANCE

Mowing

Mow at the highest setting on your lawn mower until the grass enters dormancy. See How High to Mow Your Yard for the Final Cut. Once dormant, the grass no longer needs as much above ground growth. For the final mowing of the season, lower the cutting height to about two inches for cool-season grasses and one inch for warm-season grasses. Left too long, the grass will lay over and trap moisture beneath. This makes conditions favorable for diseases to develop next season.

Leaf Removal

Regularly remove leaves (especially wet ones) to keep them from smothering the grass. After the bulk of fallen leaves have been disposed of , use a mulching mower for the last few scattered leaves. The shredded leaves will slowly decompose and add organic matter to the soil, just like in a compost. See "Do the tree leaves that fall help your lawn?" By following the good fall lawn care practices outlined here, your lawn should be well prepared for winter and reward you with a quick green-up come spring.

Aeration

Fall is also the best time to seed bare patches, or to start a new lawn, unless you are planting warm-season grasses, which are best sown in late spring or early summer. This is also the season to perform two other important lawn care tasks --aeration and overseeding. Aeration is  done by a machine called an aerator, heavy machinery that pulls plugs of soil from the lawn. The result is a pattern of holes that permit freer movement of air, nutrients, beneficial microorganisms, and water, and also gives more room for the roots to grow. You can rent an aerator, but for the money and time you’d spend, you'd be better off to have it done professionally. After aerating your lawn is the best time to overseed with a grass blend suited to your region's climate and amount of sun exposure in your yard.

Overseeding

Because of very hot temperatures this past summer, overseeding may be necessary. See Fall Overseeding. Overseeding is broadcasting seed into an established lawn to rejuvenate it. Use a cool-season turf grass variety that will enable you to enjoy an attractive lawn well into the fall and early winter months. September is the month for most climates to begin preparing your lawn for fall and winter weather, but it's not too late. Start by closely inspecting your lawn for weeds. Spray them with an herbicide to eliminate weed competition. Wait until the label on the herbicide says it's okay to start over-seeding, then cut the grass as low as possible. Also aerate or dethatch the lawn before over-seeding. One such product is Southern States' Premium Turf Type Tall Fescue.™ Fall is also an ideal time to establish a new lawn. Use a premium lawn starter with phosphorus for increased root development of seedlings and high potassium. This will aid in disease resistance and cold hardiness. After planting, use a good all-season fertilizer. to improve winter hardiness, as well as to promote early spring green-up.

Fertilizing

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Just before the lawn goes dormant is the time for a fertilizer. In the Mid-Atlantic that can be from October to mid November, but in the South it could be December before the grass is dormant. Don’t use the slow-release fertilizer you did in the spring and summer.  In the fall the soil is cooler, so there’s a lower level of microbial activity in the soil to break down the fertilizer so that the grass can absorb the nutrients. Use a fertilizer that will provide one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Quick-release fertilizers are usually applied at higher rates per square foot of lawn than slow-release fertilizers; follow instructions on the product label for proper rates.

Watering Tips

How do you water your lawn? Sprinklers are less expensive but must be moved to get even coverage. Use one that sprays low to the ground. Sprinkler systems which can run on a timer are the most efficient way to water your lawn.You should only use an irrigation system and sprinklers as a supplement to rain.

How often should you water? Keep up with rainfall. Of course, don't water the lawn if rain is expected. Eliminate water waste. Watering usage usually doubles during the summer and is often unnecessary. A sprinkler uses approximately 1000 liters of water per hour. Use a rain gauge; you should try to have 1” of water per week to maintain a green color and proper growth. Water should be applied deep and infrequently to simulate the way rain falls naturally. Be sure to water deep enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots.  Some people think you must water every day, but in fact, watering once or twice per week is best. Be sure to water deep enough for the moisture to soak down to the roots.  Long intervals between watering actually will encourage the thirsty grass to seek water by developing strong, deep root systems. This will increase drought tolerance. Conversely, frequent watering will result in a shallow root system unable to cope with summer heat and it will encourage weeds. Newly seeded and newly sodded lawns that have not yet set roots into the soil, however, are the exception to this rule, as the surface needs to stay moist. Another exception is when summer patch disease is a problem. Fertilizers or pesticides should be applied prior to rainfall. Raise the mowing deck. During very dry weather you must not cut the grass too short! Blades should be about 2 1/2" or higher. Also, don’t apply nitrogen during the heat. In extremely hot weather of summer you may let the lawn go dormant. After the grass has turned completely brown, however, don’t water it enough to make it turn green again. This breaks its dormancy and drains the lawn’s food supply, which in turn causes trauma.

When is the best time to water? The ideal time to water the grass is in the hours between 3:00 AM and 6:00 AM while grass is usually wet with dew. If this can't be done, water as early in the day as possible. Watering in the evening is okay as a last resort, but this can lead to conditions favorable for disease. It is acceptable, even best to water during late afternoon or early evening if the temperature is exceptionally hot and the temperature does not go below 68 degrees at night. Watering in the middle of the day will cool the grass, but most of the water will quickly evaporate and not have a chance to be absorbed.

Following these guidelines you can have a beautiful pest-free and weed-free lawn with a healthy root system.

Mowing Tips

• Mowing is necessary for a quality turfgrass. Mow frequently and at the proper height. The frequency and height of cut depend on the type of turfgrass, fertilization program, and the amount of rainfall.
• Don't cut your grass too short, this is especially true for cool season grasses. Higher heights encourage a deeper root system, makes the lawn fuller and healthier, and discourages weeds like crabgrass.
• It is a mistake to allow the turf to become overgrown before mowing; this stresses the grass by removing too much of the foliage at one time. If the grass gets too tall, break it down into several mowings to get caught up with 3 or so days between cuttings. Avoid mowing when the grass is wet.
• Don't remove any more than 1/3 of the grass leaf at any one cutting. When you do this it is not necessary to remove clippings for the health of the lawn.  Clippings are an excellent source of slow-release nutrients to the turf. They will quickly decompose and add nutrients back into the soil. Grass clippings do not add to thatch buildup because they are made up of about 75% water. If you remove clippings for aesthetic purposes, place them in a compost pile rather than the trash.
• If possible, mow your lawn in a different direction with each mowing, especially with lawns of shorter grass types. This will help grass blades will grow more erect and allow a more even cut.
• Sharpen the blades several times during mowing season and keep several blades around so you'll always have a sharp one on hand.
• Don't forget to change your mower's oil at least once during the mowing season.
•  You should have drained your gas tank in the fall. If you didn't, use a fuel stabilizer, don't use that old gas in the spring, as it can cause several problems.

ABOUT ALEXANDER LAWN CARE

   Alexander Lawn Care

Little Rock, MS

Nick Alexander, Owner
Call or Text: 601 917-4498

‎"Taking The Backache Out of Your Landscape"Z

SERVICES:

·        Grass Cutting

·        Weed-eating

·        Roundup & Other Poison Sprays

·        Tree Trimming

·        Mulching & Small Landscaping

·        Debris Removal (Metals and Non-Metals) 

·        Tree limbs in your yard? Need them cut and hauled away? Give us a call!

EXPERIENCE:

Oct. –Dec. 2005         Ash Britt Environmental Agency            Quality Control Supervisor

                                    480 S Andrews Ave.

                                    Pompano Beach, FL  33069

Summer 2003             Holiday Inn Express                                 Maintenance

                                    1399 Roebuck Drive   
                                    Meridian, MS 39301

                                   

Summer 2002             East Central Community College            Maintenance
                                    Decatur, MS 39327

Since 2003~For All Your Lawn Needs We've Got You Covered