Torrential Designs

Proper care of your lawn during the late summer and early fall season can ensure a vibrant lawn for several more months and will prepare for a great start next spring. Lawn management practices such as mowing, fertilization, dethatching, aeration, weed control, and seeding can help maintain a vigorous lawn or revive a declining lawn.

Thatch Removal. Thatch is a tightly intertwined layer of dead and living grass stems and roots that forms between the soil surface and green foliage. When the thatch layer thickness is greater than 1/2 inch, dethatching may help your lawn breathe and encourage a thicker plush carpet of new growth. Many rental companies and garden centers offer vertical mowers and power rakes to thin the grass and lift the thatch from the soil surface. The excess thatch debris can be raked or vacuumed and discarded in the compost pile. Typically, thatch removal cam be done in late August or September, allowing for at least four weeks of good growing weather before the grass enters its dormant phase in late fall. Fertilizers can be applied after dethatching to further encourage recovery and regrowth.

Fertilization. Late summer and fall is an excellent time to fertilize lawns. Check with your local garden center to determine how much fertilizer is needed in your area. Typical lawns may need 1 to 2 pounds of actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet.  Read more about late summer and early fall lawn fertilizers.

Aeration. Feeling the plush grass beneath your feet is one of the best rewards for a great lawn, but too much heavy foot traffic may compact the soil and will thin the grass. Late August and September is a great time to aerate your lawn and loosen up the compacted soils using a machine with hollow metal tubes that remove plugs of soil from the lawn. These plugs of soil can be broken up by raking or mowing and will give your lawn a chance to breathe.

Mowing. Mowing produces a neat, well groomed appearance that many home owners strive for. However, it is important to prevent problems with your lawn by adapting your mowing technique to the variety of grass in your lawn, the current growing conditions and the season. Mow often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the total leaf surface is removed and continue mowing the lawn until it stops growing and becomes dormant in late fall (early to mid-November). Remember - mowing doesn’t hurt the grass; it encourages spreading and promotes a thicker lawn.

Seeding. Whether you are establishing a new lawn or trying to improve your damaged areas, late summer or early fall is an excellent time to seed or overseed your lawn. Remember that the seed needs moisture and direct contact with the soil for germination, so water frequently and be prepared to tend your lawn with great attention. As evening temperatures drop, a heavy dew will become more apparent in the morning and can provide a healthy source of moisture during the grass seed’s initial germination. Seeding may begin in mid-August and should be completed by the end of September.

Broadleaf Weed Control. Perennial broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions and plantain, can be controlled with the application of broadleaf herbicides from mid-September to the end of the growing season, usually early November. Most broadleaf herbicide products consist of a mixture of two or three of the following chemicals: 2,4-D, dicamba, MCPP, and triclopyr. Fall applications of broadleaf herbicides are safer and more effective than spring or summer applications as perennial weeds move carbohydrates down to their roots to store over the winter. If a broadleaf herbicide is applied to the weeds, it will also be stored in the roots, resulting in the complete destruction of the weeds. With gardening activity winding down in the fall, the risk of injury from herbicide drift to vegetable and flower gardens, fruits, and ornamental plants is also reduced.

image credit: dredrk

Tags: fertilizer, Lawn, mowing