Proper lawn maintenance in late summer and early fall is extremely important. Proper practices can help maintain a healthy lawn or revive a patchy lawn. This includes mowing, fertilization, dethatching, aeration, weed control, and seeding. Be sure to contact your local lawn care company and get on the schedule for these important lawn maintenance services.
Mowing
The key to late summer mowing is not to cut your lawn too short. Cutting your grass too short can make your lawn more vulnerable to diseases and offers a better environment for weeds to grow. Mowing when it’s dry allows you to get a clean cut every time with your mower instead of creating clumps of uneven, wet grass. Leaving the lawn clippings behind after mowing can also serve as nitrogen-rich fertilizer and also prevent water runoff which increases irrigation.
Mow often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the total leaf surface is removed. Continue mowing the lawn until it stops growing and becomes dormant in late fall (early to mid-November).
Fertilization
Late summer and early fall is a perfect time to fertilize and is highly suggested. Fertilizers in the fall offer benefits like allowing your lawn to store it’s nutrients for the winter and gives your yard further support in a healthy and flourishing root system. It is best to spread fertilizer between mid to late November just before the grass usually stops growing. Even if you won’t be spending as much time outside like in the summer, maintaining your lawn is still important for keeping your lawn healthy until the next summer.
Thatch Removal
Thatch is the layer of dead and living plant material that forms between the soil surface and green foliage. When thatch is present in amounts greater than 1/2 inch, dethatching may be beneficial.
A thin thatch layer, less than 1/2-inch thick, is beneficial to lawn health. But when thatch grows thick, grass suffers. Thatch layers of 1 inch or more become barriers instead of benefits.
Thatch removal can be done in late August or September. Allow at least four weeks of good growing weather following dethatching. This gives the turfgrass time to recover before it becomes dormant in the late fall. Apply fertilizer after dethatching to promote recovery of the turfgrass.
Aeration
Lawn areas subject to heavy foot traffic may be thin due to compaction. Aerify compacted soils in late August or September. The process of aeration can be extremely beneficial in helping your yard regain some of the essentials it needs like the movement of air, nutrients, and soil. Removing plugs of soil will relieve the compaction of the ground itself, creating ventilation for your lawn. This ventilation will allow for your grass's root system to grow stronger.
Broadleaf Weed Control.
Perennial broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions, can be controlled with the application of broadleaf herbicides from mid-September to early November. Fall applications of broadleaf herbicides are safer and more effective than spring or summer applications. During the fall, perennial weeds translocate carbohydrates down to their roots. If a broadleaf herbicide is applied to the weeds, it will also be translocated to the roots, resulting in the complete destruction of the weeds. With gardening activity winding down in the fall, the risk of injury from herbicide drift to vegetable and flower gardens, fruits, and ornamentals is also reduced.
Overseeding
There's a secret behind achieving a beautiful, lush lawn. Landscape professionals know what it is. Overseeding, as part of a proactive plan, that keeps lawns looking great. As grasses mature, thinning is normal—especially if you enjoy your lawn and use it often. Overseeding is a vital practice to keeping a thick, healthy lawn.
Versailles Lawn Care
Versailles, KY
859-353-3006