Fall in Colorado Springs is when trees change into the same orange hue as the neighboring mountains. In general, a visit outdoors during this season is a scenic display, and your lawn should be considered part of the picture. Here are five fall lawn care tips to help with that.
1. Fertilize Your Lawn
Fall is a great time to fertilize your lawn because it helps give grass the nutrients it needs to endure the upcoming winter. Choosing the right fertilizer is an important first step — you should check your grass type, and if you want to be particularly precise, you can order a soil test.
See Related:
— When to Fertilize Your Lawn in Colorado
— How to Use a Soil Test Kit for Your Lawn
— Best Grass Seed for Colorado
2. Water Your Lawn but Reduce the Amount
Your lawn won’t need as much water as it did during the summer because the weather has cooled off and the days are shorter. By October, you should reduce water less and check the hydration of your soil.
Take a screwdriver or a tool and wedge it into the ground: If it slides in easily, it’s hydrated. You should also not water right after rainfall or light snowfall.
See Related:
— How to Water Your Lawn in Colorado
3. Aerate the Ground
Foot traffic on your lawn can compact the soil, preventing crucial nutrients from reaching the roots. If that’s the case, you need to aerate your lawn.
Aeration pokes holes into the soil and allows water, seed, and, fertilizer to enter deeper. It’s important to use a lawn aerator, and not a spike. You can either rent one or hire a professional. (Yes, LawnStarter offers aeration in Colorado Springs and cities across the U.S.)
See Related:
— How to Aerate Your Lawn
— What is Aeration? (Video)
— When and How Often You Should Aerate Your Lawn
4. Rake Leaves
Raking fallen leaves is surprisingly important for your lawn. Leaf buildup can choke your lawn and prevent water and nutrients from reaching the soil. Furthermore, pests such as grubs can fester and flourish under leaf piles, so use a rake to clear away the debris.
If you don’t want to rake up your leaves, LawnStarter offers leaf removal in Colorado Springs.
See Related:
— 5 Best Ways to Remove Leaves From Your Yard
— How to Rake Leaves (Step-by-Step Guide)
— What Happens if You Don’t Remove Leaves
5. Winterize Your Irrigation System
This is one of the final steps you need to take before the winter hits. With freezing temperatures arriving, you need to make sure systems, such as your sprinklers, are shut down so water doesn’t freeze within the pipes and other fittings. Otherwise, pipes may burst.
See Related:
— How to Winterize Your Sprinkler System
Read Next:
— Summer Lawn Care Tips for Colorado Springs
— 5 Native Plants That Thrive in Colorado Springs
Need help preparing your lawn? Visit our Colorado Springs lawn care page to get in touch with a professional! In addition to Colorado Springs, we provide lawn care services to other Colorado cities, including Denver.
Main Image Credit: Haskell House / Xnatedawgx / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
