It’s August already, and while fall is still a month away, now’s the time to consider what your lawn needs to succeed. Our landscapes will be an explosion of colors and smell that bring back fond memories. But if you’re a homeowner, it means lots of work. Fall maintenance is essential to maintaining the look of your yard into next year. From seeding to weed control, there are many things you can do to boost the health of your turfgrass and have it ready to withstand the harsh winter. Plus, whatever you do now is less work down the line next spring!
Is Your Massachusetts Yard Ready For Fall?
Rake Your Leaves
The importance of raking your leaves can not be stressed enough. When leaves blanket our lawn, it blocks out sunlight and smothers the grass. Sure, they look beautiful on your lawn, but those wet leaves could spell trouble in the spring if you don’t get them off your grass. Wet leaves, plus darkness, equals fungus and mold. Raking also loosens up thatch which contributes to soil compaction, so get out there and make a family project.
Put Your Leaves To Good Use
Don’t just pack your leaves in bags and set them on the curb. Leaves are valuable sources of nitrogen and carbon; essential nutrients plants need to grow. You have free mulch and fertilizer literally growing on your trees, and you didn’t even know it. Add leaves to your compost bin for later use or gather them up and use them as a winter blanket for your flower beds. It’s an easy – and free! – way to reduce the lawn maintenance routine in spring. Your plants won’t need as much rescuing since they’ll have added nutrients from the leaves. Just be sure that if you do use them as mulch and fertilizer, chop the leaves up into small pieces using your lawnmower. From there, you can rake them up and spread them around your trees, gardens, or even your lawn.
Get A Fall Weed Control Treatment
Summer weed control is about decreasing the number of weeds in the summer, so you have less to deal with in the fall. Fall weed control is all about getting those last pesky weeds before they turn to seed and spread throughout your landscape. If you practiced weed control in spring and summer, then this should not be a difficult task. All you need to do is use a post-emergent weed killer and target the individual weeds. This way, your yard will be off to a weed-free start in spring.
Clean Out Your Gutters
It might be an old chore your dad or grandfather made you do as a child but cleaning your gutters is a critical task in the fall. Leaves can clog gutters, causing water to back up and linger long after it rains. Clogged gutters can cause roof leaks, wood rot, erosion around your home’s foundation, cracks in the foundation, and basement flooding. Not to mention, the standing water in a clogged gutter is mighty attractive to mosquitoes who will use it as a breeding area. Female mosquitoes can actually make do with any source of still water – no matter how small. When your gutters are clogged, they’ll take full advantage and make evening hangouts in your yard unbearable.
Aerate Your Yard
Fall is a time to get your yard ready for next year, and what better way than with good old lawn aeration. Aeration or core aeration is a process designed for loosening up compact soil and cutting through the thatch. Soil becomes compacted through frequent use and natural causes over time. When soil is compact, it prevents your grass from getting water and nutrients, essentially suffocating it. The process works by pulling thousands of small plugs of sod out of your yard to loosen up the soil and allow water and air to flow again into the roots.
Overseed Your Lawn
Believe it or not, fall is the best time to overseed your lawn. Your new grass won’t interfere with any pre-emergent weed control, and the warm days and cool nights won’t overly stress your grass. It’s really a Goldilocks situation for your new turfgrass. Overseeding will thicken your existing lawn and help fill in any bare patches.
Hire The Lawn Care Pros at Sea Of Green Lawn Care
If you need help with your lawn care, call the pros at Sea of Green Lawn Care. We offer lawn care services, including aeration and overseeding services to improve the looks and health of your law, plant care services to get your flower beds ready for fall, and pest control programs to keep pests from spending the winter in your home. It’s never too early to sign up for our lawn care program next year.
Call us for more information at 978-465-8788 or leave us a message online. Don’t forget to check out our educational blog with interesting articles on lawn care, weed control, lawn diseases, pest control, and more! Follow us on Facebook for all of the latest news and offerings from Sea of Green.