When fall is around the corner, it’s time to prepare your lawn for the upcoming winter weather in Indianapolis, IN. So, when it comes to lawn care, there are some things you can do to take care of your lawn and prepare it for the winter months. Here are four simple fall lawn care tips for Indianapolis lawns.
1. Aeration
Also called core aeration, and cores of soil are removed in plugs and left on top of the ground. This allows them to break down and be incorporated into the soil. Aeration is essential because it helps to stimulate lawn growth and prevent lawn diseases. It will improve the uptake of fertilizer and help to decrease water dependency.
Aeration will help promote stronger roots in your grass which helps your lawn to survive droughts easier. By aerating, you will help your lawn avoid soil compaction which then supplies water and nutrients to your grass easier. Thatch build-up will decrease because your lawn and soil can get the air circulation it needs to grow properly.
Once you’ve completed aerating the soil, watering the lawn will help with the breakdown of the cores scattered everywhere. The water will provide, too, direct stimulation to the roots which have been newly exposed.
2. Overseeding
One of the most critical elements to maintaining a beautiful lawn is overseeding. However, this is one step which is often overlooked when caring for your lawn. Overseeding will create thick and rich grass which helps to keep the weeds to a minimum. Grass needs to refresh every five or six years, and when you overseed, this is accomplished.
Plan to overseed after you aerate your lawn in late August or early September. This allows the grass time for maximum germination through the fall. Before you begin to overseed, however, you need to mow your grass shorter than you usually do. This will let the seed contract directly with the soil.
If you overseed the same day you aerate, or within 24 hours, the more receptive the open core holes are because the cores haven’t broken down yet. If you want to fertilize and overseed, then you need to use fertilizer without pre-emergent. If you do use a fertilizer with pre-emergent, then the pre-emergent will stop the seeds from growing. You have to keep the seeds moist until they sprout heavily and water carefully, never letting the seed dry out.
3. Weeds
During the hot summer months, trying to deal with weeds can be a losing battle. The weeds have grown and networked under the soil so thick, that you won’t even make a dent. But, in fall the weeds roots are at their weakest, and you can spray the areas with weeds with an herbicide. You won’t kill them all, but you can weaken them and their root system, so they aren’t so prevalent next spring.
4. Remove leaves
Removing dead leaves can seem like a thankless task, but you do need to get rid of them. Waiting until all the leaves have fallen saves you extra work and your back. If you let the leaves pile up on your lawn through the fall and winter months, it can compact the soil and kill the lawn underneath.
Preparing your lawn for fall isn’t tricky, but it can be time-consuming. You can always call a professional lawn care service in Indianapolis to give you a hand.
