Fall is a beautiful season, but the falling leaves and the promise of colder weather means that your yard needs some special tending to before winter hits. With these fall lawn preparation tips, your lawn will be able to absorb the nutrients and moisture fall brings so it’s primed to be lush and beautiful come spring.
Rake Leaves and Other Debris
As the leaves fall, they can impede the grass from growing strong and be a place for pests to settle in for the winter. Raking and clearing leaves from the yard and flower beds as soon as they fall will keep them from getting wet and sticking together, essentially suffocating the grass and soil from the necessary moisture and nutrients they need. Plus, if you rake them when they’re still crisp and dry, you have the best leaves for jumping in!
When you’re ready to dispose of leaves and grass clippings, the city of Orono offers leaf and grass drop-off at their site open all spring, summer and fall. Citizens are asked to remember that leaf burning is not permitted.
Aerate the Soil
After your lawn is clear of debris and dead grass, fall is the perfect time to aerate your soil to allow proper moisture, oxygen and fertilizer to reach the roots and keep it healthy. This can easily be done with a garden fork or a variety of aerator tools available at any local hardware store. These will aid in punching holes in the soil to extract dirt, allow for fresh fertilizer, and improve drainage.
Fertilize
Applying fertilizer once your lawn is properly aerated and free of debris is essential to providing your grass with the necessary nutrients to develop deep roots and also to keep those nutrients in store for spring.
Be sure to apply a dry fertilizer evenly without missing any spots. Remember to also water your yard and plants as often as you would in the summer to keep them moisturized until winter hits.
Don’t Stop Mowing
The lawn mower shouldn’t be retired just yet, but your blade setting should be adjusted. Drop your mower’s blade down to the lowest setting to keep your lawn trimmed to about 2-3 inches tall. This will allow the grass to continue absorbing sunlight and moisture before the cold hits.
Clean out Gutters
Fall yard cleanup includes more than just the lawn and garden! The rain gutters should be cleaned regularly during the fall to keep leaves and other falling debris from clogging your gutters and causing damage.
Check to make sure the gutters are draining properly, use any small garden tool to clear out blockage, and rinse with a garden hose.
With these simple fall lawn care tips, your yard will be well groomed and prepared for the coming spring!