A Guide to Fall Lawn Care in Dallas, TX

Header photo by user M01129 on Flickr

Dallas schools are about to open their doors, which means you probably won’t be thinking very much about your lawn. Whether your schedule is about to get busier or not, fall is the best time to dedicate some time and love to your lawn. Set your lawn up for a successful fall season with these lawn care tips.

Aerate Your Soil

Your lawn sees a lot of foot traffic during the summer months, which can compact the soil and not allow water or oxygen to penetrate deep enough into the ground. Leaving soil compacted can create short root systems, which affects the health and look of your lawn. Core aeration is both cost effective and vital for your lawns health. Loosening the soil helps with moisture retention and less water runoff. If you want to tackle the job yourself, you can rent a gas-powered aeration machine for under $100 a day. For larger lawns, contact a lawn care professional to handle the job.

Water

Texas summers put a lot of stress on your lawn and soil, so you’ll want to make sure that you’re still watering appropriately to allow your grass to repair. Since Dallas has a twice-weekly watering schedule, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of early morning watering sessions to get the best use of your water.

Proper watering is also much easier if you aerate, since water will be able to soak in deeper and promote a long, healthy root system. A longer root system helps grass stay healthy and combat daily stresses like weather, pests, and foot traffic. Make sure that you monitor your watering sessions as well, as watering for too long can actually damage your lawn by drowning the root and creating a shallow root system. For those with busy schedules, an automatic irrigation system may work best for your needs. Automatic sprinkler systems also allow you to monitor the amount of water being used for irrigation purposes and stay conscious of your water usage.

Mow

As the daily temperature begins to cool down, you’ll also want to gradually drop the height of your mower’s blade. Remember to never cut more than a third of the grass blade during any one cutting. Grass grows slower in the fall, so you can also cut back on the frequency of your mowing. Even though you’ll be mowing less, you’ll want to ensure that your mower blades are sharp. Dull mower blades can rip at the grass blades rather than cut, leaving your lawn susceptible to damage from the weather, pests, and fungi. Make sure you leave the bag off of your mower. Grass clippings are nitrogen-rich and help your lawn stay healthy when mulched up during cuttings.

Fertilize

Hopefully you fertilize more than once a year, but if you don’t the fall is the optimal time to do so. Proper fertilization will strengthen your lawn and help it stay healthy throughout the winter months. Fertilizing and aerating your lawn can be one of the best ways to prevent common lawn problems.

Pick up some granular fertilizer and use a spreader to disperse it across your lawn. You’ll want to find out what type of grass your lawn is made up of to ensure the best results possible. Using the wrong type of fertilizer is a waste of money and time, and you’ll probably end up spending more money down the road when problems arise.

Weed Control

Summer weather in Dallas brings in a lot of weeds and problem areas for your lawn, sometimes even after you’ve laid down protective fertilizers. The fall is the best time to fight back against anything stressing your lawn. Weeds will try and suck up as much nutrients as possible, taking away food and water from your lawn. Lay down an herbicide to combat the weeds and keep them away come the spring season.

Looking for quality lawn care in the Dallas area? Visit our Dallas lawn care page to learn about our service offerings. We also service the following DFW suburbs.

Jake Lane

Jake is a growth analyst for LawnStarter.

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