Plus, seasonal maintenance tips.
Digital Hallway/Getty Images
Fall brings cooler weather and glimpses of winter ahead.
The right time to stop watering your lawn depends on location and climate.
Photo:Digital Hallway/Getty Images
By this time, most grasses, especiallycool-season varieties, will start to enter dormancy and require less water.
Also, consider nighttime temperatures.
I recommend stopping irrigation at this point, says Scott McLeod, owner of McLeod Landscaping.
The grass has gone dormant and will not absorb additional moisture, so watering can promote disease.
You may also notice the soil retaining more moisture as evaporation decreases in fall.
Leaving the grass too long, however, can encourage fungal diseases due to moisture buildup."
In colder areas, trim the grass to a shorter length, McLeod advises.
This protects the crown over winter while allowing some sunlight to reach the lawn."
In colder climates, cut the grass shorter, around 2 inches.
Longer grass can mat down under snow, suffocating the lawn.
Keep the grass at 3 inches in warmer regions to help insulate the soil during dormancy.
Rake regularly and use aleaf blowerif you need help clearing your lawn.
Clear fallen leaves from your lawn regularly, Adnan says.
A thick layer of leaves can suffocate your grass by blocking sunlight and trapping moisture, leading to disease.
Fall is the perfect time to aerate your lawn, Adnan says.
This process relieves soil compaction, improves root development, and allows nutrients to penetrate deeper into the soil.
This ensures healthy growth in spring.
When to fertilize your lawn depends on the climate where you live.
If you’re in a place with cold winters, an earlier fall fertilization is best.
If your climate includes mild winters, on the other hand, fertilizing in late fall will work better.
Apply a winterizing fertilizer 4 to 6 weeks before the first hard freeze, McLeod suggests.
Overseed in Early Fall
you might cultivate a lush spring lawnby overseedingin the fall.
Early fall is the best time to overseed and promote healthy grass growth while the weather is still mild.
