Summer is over, the kids are back in school so you can finally put away that lawnmower and watch football, right? Not so fast. Fall is actually the best time to prepare your lawn for the winter months ahead so it will bounce back even greener and more luscious next spring. Follow these fall lawn care tips for Modesto, CA to assure your lawn will stay lush year round.
Irrigate
Because it’s no longer the growing season in Modesto, your lawn doesn’t need as much water, but it still requires an occasional drink. You can water in the mornings to help reduce the chance of evaporation. Be careful not to overwater, because that’s how weeds and pests thrive. If the top two inches of soil is dry, it’s time to water again.
Fertilize
It’s a good idea to apply nitrogen fertilizer twice in the fall, once in September and once in October. Healthy lawns are better able to stave off diseases and pests and thrive in the fall. Fertilizing the grass will help it keep it’s rich, green color and improve the root strength so it will survive the cold months and come back stronger next spring.
Mow
Your grass grows more slowly during the fall as the temperature drops, so you won’t need to mow as often. Make sure to use a sharp blade to make a clean cut, which will help reduce the chance of disease. It’s important to follow the one-third mowing rule and remove only a third of the grass blade each time.
Clean Up
Be sure to pick up any debris, like dead leaves and twigs and branches to prevent mold from growing on the lawn. Leaves may be fun to play in, but they keep water, air, and sunlight from getting to the grass. You can rake all the leaves, shred them and transfer it to a compost pile. You can also use a thatch rake to further break up debris under the surface of the grass on top of your soil, providing even greater access to the soil.
Need help tending to your lawn? Visit our Modesto lawn care page for more info!
Feature image source: Zillow.com
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