- 1. Adjust Your Watering Schedule<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Know When To Mow<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Dethatch Properly<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Fertilizing Is Key<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Consider Aerating<\/a><\/li>
- 6. Overseeding Can Be Handy<\/a><\/li>
- 7. It\u2019s Leaf Removal Time<\/a><\/li>
- 8. Take the Time to Plan a Major Project<\/a><\/li>
- 9. The Final Mow Before Winter<\/a><\/li>
- 10. Review Your Lawn Mower and Other Equipment<\/a><\/li>
- FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
1. Adjust Your Watering Schedule<\/strong><\/h2>
In dealing with the drought conditions, Sacramento has rules<\/a> for when a home can be watered. <\/p>
Some forecasters expect California\u2019s drought conditions to last for several years, if not longer. With that in mind, remember this about dealing with water issues:<\/p>
- Check regularly for changes<\/strong> in regulations for water use.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Water in the early morning<\/strong>. Say, before 8 a.m.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Water plants<\/strong>, but not hardscapes.<\/li> <\/ul>
- When it rains, don\u2019t water<\/strong>. Those automatic sprinklers might not be a good idea (unless you have a rain sensor).<\/li> <\/ul>
- High winds? Don\u2019t try to water. <\/strong>It is a waste.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Monitor runoff. <\/strong>If it is more than a trickle, conserve the water.<\/li> <\/ul>
2. Know When To Mow<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"Warm](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-warm-season-growth.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure> The cool-season grasses<\/a> often used in Sacramento, such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass, will have a growth spurt in the fall. You will want to mow at least once per week, unless drought conditions are slowing growth.<\/p>
Follow these guidelines:<\/p>
![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-one-third-rule-illustration-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure> - Follow the one-third rule. <\/strong>Don\u2019t cut more than that.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Keep mower blades sharp. <\/strong>It is simple to do, and dull blades will damage the grass you are trying to develop.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow mid-morning or late afternoon. <\/strong>After the morning dew has burned off but not in the heat of the day.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Vary your mowing pattern. <\/strong>It keeps the mower from wearing lines in the yard, and catches blades of grass that are missed by going in a particular direction.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Cut at the proper height <\/strong>for your type of grass.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Leave your clippings<\/strong> on the lawn<\/li> <\/ul>
For more information: <\/strong>If you\u2019d love more information on how to care for your Sacramento lawn in spring or summer, check out our other guides below:<\/p>
- 11 Spring Lawn Care Tips for Sacramento, CA<\/a>
<\/li>- 8 Summer Lawn Care Tips for Sacramento, CA<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
You should also review:<\/p>
- 6 Best Grass Types for Sacramento, CA<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
3. Dethatch Properly<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"Thatch-illustration\"](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Thatch-illustration-update-1.png\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure> Thatch is a layer of dead and living grass shoots, stems, and roots that accumulate above the soil and below the green vegetation. A little bit of thatch is normal and even beneficial, but anything over 1\/2 inch, and you may need to consider dethatching<\/a>.<\/p>
To have a healthy lawn, cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass should be dethatched in the fall (warm-season grasses<\/a> in the spring). <\/p>
The basics of dethatching:<\/p>
- Dethatch with moist soil <\/strong>but not wet.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Run the machine three times<\/strong> and in different directions.<\/li> <\/ul>
- The same amount of material <\/strong>should be churned up each time.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Remove the piles<\/strong> that were churned up right away.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Seed the lawn<\/strong> after dethatching it.
<\/li> <\/ul>Lawn care professionals charge $190 per hour <\/strong>or $250 per 1,000 square feet<\/strong> to dethatch the lawn<\/a>.<\/p>
4. Fertilizing Is Key<\/strong><\/h2>
If you have cool-season grasses (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass are common in Sacramento), you should fertilize them in the fall<\/a>. Some warm-season grasses (St. Augustinegrass, Bermudagrass, and Zoysia are regularly used in Sacramento) will benefit from being fertilized early in the fall, say in September.<\/p>
LawnStarter has put together procedures for fertilizing<\/a>:<\/p>
How to Apply Granular Lawn Fertilizer<\/h3>
- Use a lawn spreader<\/strong>. Fertilizer spreaders<\/a> come in different styles, including handheld or one you push from behind.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Fertilize the perimeter first <\/strong>and work your way inward.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Water <\/strong>the lawn immediately.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Clean up<\/strong>. Sweep granules that have fallen on walkways, driveways, or sidewalks back onto the lawn before the rain carries them into the water supply. Wash fertilizer from the spreader; it does have chemicals in it.<\/li> <\/ul>
How to Apply Liquid Lawn Fertilizer<\/h3>
- Attach or fill your sprayer<\/strong>. Ready-to-spray are common; just attach them to the hose and spray. Some fertilizers call for you to mix them with water and pour them into a sprayer. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Apply fertilizer evenly<\/strong> as you walk across your lawn. Don\u2019t miss spots and don\u2019t spray more in some places than others; you don\u2019t want a patchy lawn.
<\/li>- Wait 2-4 hours before watering<\/strong>. If not, you might wash the fertilizer away. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Clean the sprayer<\/strong>. Use up the fertilizer (pour it out, if you have to) and rinse out the sprayer. Store it away from children and pets.<\/li> <\/ul>
5. Consider Aerating<\/h2>
![\"a](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/aeration.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure> Fall is a good time to aerate your soil<\/a> if you have cool-season grass, such as the ones so common in the area: tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass.<\/p>
The benefits of aerating your lawn:<\/p>
- Root growth<\/strong>. By lessening soil compaction, water and nutrients can better reach the root zone <\/li> <\/ul>
- Thatch reduction<\/strong>. Thatch accumulation is removed before it becomes too much.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Bump removal. <\/strong>It will smooth out a lawn.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Weed control<\/strong>. A healthy, dense lawn will crowd out weeds.<\/li> <\/ul>
6. Overseeding Can Be Handy<\/strong><\/h2>
Overseeding is the process of spreading new grass seed over an existing lawn, usually to fill in bare patches. In the case of places dealing with drought, overseeding<\/a> can help deal with grass that has turned brown, especially if you mix in a different kind of seed.<\/p>
Bermudagrass becomes dormant during winter, so a lot of these Bermuda lawns are overseeded<\/a>, usually with perennial ryegrass. St. Augustinegrass and Zoysiagrass are other warm-season grasses that go dormant in the winter, but they don\u2019t respond as well to overseeding, so few do it.<\/p>
The steps:<\/p>
- Dethatch and aerate the lawn<\/strong>, if needed.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow the lawn shorter <\/strong>than usual, down to perhaps an inch. It gives the new seeds better access to the soil. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Rake after mowing<\/strong>, It removes debris. You also want to scrape up the top of the soil.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Spread topsoil<\/strong> unless you are using a seed mix that already includes it.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Spread the grass seed<\/strong>. The package label will tell you how much to use.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Fertilize the new grass,<\/strong> using a starter fertilizer<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Water your lawn<\/strong>, but you need only enough water to keep the soil moist.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Wait to mow or walk on it <\/strong>until it is 2 or more inches tall.<\/li> <\/ul>
If you have cool-season grass, you can overseed with the same grass in late summer or early fall. This helps to repair bare spots and maintain a full, healthy lawn.<\/p>
7. It\u2019s Leaf Removal Time<\/strong><\/h2>
From November through January, the city of Sacramento will pick up leaf collections at your curb. Be sure to check the guidelines<\/a> each year.<\/p>
Some tips on leaf removal<\/a>:<\/p>
- Remove leaves at least twice, <\/strong>though every 7-10 days is better.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Start when 25% have fallen. <\/strong>Don\u2019t wait for all of them to fall; they will be decomposing by then and will suffocate your lawn.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Raking only looks fun. <\/strong>You can twist your back into a painful injury. Go slow.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Leaf blowers help<\/strong>. You can use them on the dry leaves. The average cost of a leaf blower<\/a> is $149<\/strong>, a LawnStarter study finds. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Think compost. <\/strong>Pile up your leaves and add grass clippings. In a few months, they will be compost<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>
If you\u2019d rather hire a pro, be sure you know what to expect when you hire a leaf removal service<\/a>.<\/p>
8. Take the Time to Plan a Major Project<\/strong><\/h2>
If you want to make a major change in the way you use water in your yard, you might want to replace your traditional lawn with a water-efficient selection of plants and landscaping. But a project to remove your lawn takes planning. Fall can be a good time for homeowners to invest the time to do it the way you want.<\/p>
- Diagram the yard<\/strong>. Measure things properly (that is, use a tape measure, not your eye). Call 811, a free service that will mark utility lines. Mark slopes and spots with drainage issues.<\/li> <\/ul>
![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/yard-diagram.jpg\")
Photo Credit: water.ca.gov<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> - Mark the sun and shade<\/strong>. Go out at several points in the day (morning, noon, late afternoon) and mark where the sun is and where the shade falls.<\/li> <\/ul>
![\"image](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Mark-sun-and-shage-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: water.ca.gov<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure> - Dig test holes<\/strong>. These should be two feet deep and will tell you if the soil is compacted, clay, rocky, or sandy.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Check for rebates<\/strong>. Programs regularly require you to apply before a project is started.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Decide what you want<\/strong>. Take the time to decide what you want. Trees will last decades. Walls and paths will be difficult to remove \u2026 or add later.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Consider hiring a professional<\/strong>. A yard project can be a do-it-yourself project that will provide a sense of fulfillment. It might also call on skills, equipment, or time that you don\u2019t have. Contact a Sacramento landscaping professional<\/a> if you\u2019d rather have a pro at the helm.<\/li> <\/ul>
You can also look into turning a section of your lawn into a garden with the process of sheet mulching<\/a>. Fall is considered the perfect time of year for it.<\/p>
9. The Final Mow Before Winter<\/strong><\/h2>
There is a debate about the final mow before winter<\/a>. Some say the mowing height should be lower than normal, others say it should be the same as normal.<\/p>
- Consider hiring a professional<\/strong>. A yard project can be a do-it-yourself project that will provide a sense of fulfillment. It might also call on skills, equipment, or time that you don\u2019t have. Contact a Sacramento landscaping professional<\/a> if you\u2019d rather have a pro at the helm.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Decide what you want<\/strong>. Take the time to decide what you want. Trees will last decades. Walls and paths will be difficult to remove \u2026 or add later.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Check for rebates<\/strong>. Programs regularly require you to apply before a project is started.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Dig test holes<\/strong>. These should be two feet deep and will tell you if the soil is compacted, clay, rocky, or sandy.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mark the sun and shade<\/strong>. Go out at several points in the day (morning, noon, late afternoon) and mark where the sun is and where the shade falls.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Diagram the yard<\/strong>. Measure things properly (that is, use a tape measure, not your eye). Call 811, a free service that will mark utility lines. Mark slopes and spots with drainage issues.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Think compost. <\/strong>Pile up your leaves and add grass clippings. In a few months, they will be compost<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Leaf blowers help<\/strong>. You can use them on the dry leaves. The average cost of a leaf blower<\/a> is $149<\/strong>, a LawnStarter study finds. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Raking only looks fun. <\/strong>You can twist your back into a painful injury. Go slow.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Start when 25% have fallen. <\/strong>Don\u2019t wait for all of them to fall; they will be decomposing by then and will suffocate your lawn.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Remove leaves at least twice, <\/strong>though every 7-10 days is better.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Wait to mow or walk on it <\/strong>until it is 2 or more inches tall.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Water your lawn<\/strong>, but you need only enough water to keep the soil moist.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Fertilize the new grass,<\/strong> using a starter fertilizer<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Spread the grass seed<\/strong>. The package label will tell you how much to use.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Spread topsoil<\/strong> unless you are using a seed mix that already includes it.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Rake after mowing<\/strong>, It removes debris. You also want to scrape up the top of the soil.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow the lawn shorter <\/strong>than usual, down to perhaps an inch. It gives the new seeds better access to the soil. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Dethatch and aerate the lawn<\/strong>, if needed.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Weed control<\/strong>. A healthy, dense lawn will crowd out weeds.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Bump removal. <\/strong>It will smooth out a lawn.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Thatch reduction<\/strong>. Thatch accumulation is removed before it becomes too much.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Root growth<\/strong>. By lessening soil compaction, water and nutrients can better reach the root zone <\/li> <\/ul>
- Wait 2-4 hours before watering<\/strong>. If not, you might wash the fertilizer away. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Apply fertilizer evenly<\/strong> as you walk across your lawn. Don\u2019t miss spots and don\u2019t spray more in some places than others; you don\u2019t want a patchy lawn.
- Attach or fill your sprayer<\/strong>. Ready-to-spray are common; just attach them to the hose and spray. Some fertilizers call for you to mix them with water and pour them into a sprayer. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Clean up<\/strong>. Sweep granules that have fallen on walkways, driveways, or sidewalks back onto the lawn before the rain carries them into the water supply. Wash fertilizer from the spreader; it does have chemicals in it.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Water <\/strong>the lawn immediately.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Fertilize the perimeter first <\/strong>and work your way inward.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Use a lawn spreader<\/strong>. Fertilizer spreaders<\/a> come in different styles, including handheld or one you push from behind.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Seed the lawn<\/strong> after dethatching it.
- Remove the piles<\/strong> that were churned up right away.<\/li> <\/ul>
- The same amount of material <\/strong>should be churned up each time.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Run the machine three times<\/strong> and in different directions.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Dethatch with moist soil <\/strong>but not wet.<\/li> <\/ul>
- 8 Summer Lawn Care Tips for Sacramento, CA<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>
- 11 Spring Lawn Care Tips for Sacramento, CA<\/a>
- Leave your clippings<\/strong> on the lawn<\/li> <\/ul>
- Cut at the proper height <\/strong>for your type of grass.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Vary your mowing pattern. <\/strong>It keeps the mower from wearing lines in the yard, and catches blades of grass that are missed by going in a particular direction.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow mid-morning or late afternoon. <\/strong>After the morning dew has burned off but not in the heat of the day.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Keep mower blades sharp. <\/strong>It is simple to do, and dull blades will damage the grass you are trying to develop.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Follow the one-third rule. <\/strong>Don\u2019t cut more than that.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Monitor runoff. <\/strong>If it is more than a trickle, conserve the water.<\/li> <\/ul>
- High winds? Don\u2019t try to water. <\/strong>It is a waste.<\/li> <\/ul>
- When it rains, don\u2019t water<\/strong>. Those automatic sprinklers might not be a good idea (unless you have a rain sensor).<\/li> <\/ul>
- Water plants<\/strong>, but not hardscapes.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Water in the early morning<\/strong>. Say, before 8 a.m.<\/li> <\/ul>
- 2. Know When To Mow<\/a><\/li>