Lawns Need Some Fall TLC Too
With the busy summer flying by, the last thing on our minds is the lawn. After all, it hasn’t even needed a lot of mowing lately. However, with autumn just around the corner now is a perfect time to start planning for those fall chores that are critical for making sure the grass is healthy, green, and strong next spring.
Most importantly for now, keep mowing! A good height for most grasses is about 2-3” tall. Each time you mow only cut about one-third of the length to avoid damage to the crowns. Grass-cycle (or mulch mow) if you can to add nutrients back into the lawn naturally. The grass will continue to grow through October around here before going dormant.
If you have just a sprinkling of leaves on the lawn, go ahead and mulch mow those as well. Homeowners with several deciduous trees dropping leaves on the lawn may need to rake the leaves prior to mowing to not overwhelm the mower. Removing and recycling the leaves regularly also keeps them from matting down and smothering the grass. Leaf blowers are also an option although raking has an added benefit of removing thatch. Your lawn deserves that extra effort, right?
Don’t forget to monitor the amount of water the lawn is getting. It should receive approximately one inch a week. Deep watering encourages deep roots (and therefore stronger grass), so it is best to water deeply once per week, rather than more frequent shallow waterings. Also, during dry spells, remember to turn on your sprinkler or irrigation system more often to make up for the evaporation.
What many of us neglect to do is aerate our lawns in the fall. This is the process where you remove small “plugs” throughout the lawn so that water and nutrients can get deep down to the roots. This process also reduces thatch, loosens soil, and improves drainage. It can be done manually with a lawn coring tool, although for larger lawns it may be more practical to rent an aerating machine (or just hire someone to do it for you). Aeration should be done every couple of years to keep the lawn in good condition, although for heavily compacted lawns it may need to be done every year.
Mid to late autumn (after aeration is done) is one of the best times to fertilize to ensure a healthy lawn in the spring. Autumn fertilization helps protect roots from the winter cold and gives the grass the energy to bounce back in the spring.
It is important to be careful when using fertilizer because it can harm the environment, and it is especially critical for communities like ours with yards close to waterways. Here are a few tips to fertilize responsibly.
- Be sure to use a low or zero phosphorous slow-release lawn fertilizer and always follow label directions for proper quantities (do not use more than the suggested amount).
- Organic lawn fertilizers tend to be less toxic for the environment and are slower to release nutrients. Some organic lawn fertilizers are not appropriate for colder fall temperatures so be sure to check the packaging.
- Sweep walkways after applying fertilizer to reduce the chances of it getting washed into gutters or waterways by the rain. It is safer for it to stay on the lawn for the nutrients to be used by the grass.
- If you live next to a waterway, keep the lawn at least 5 to 10 feet away from the water.
- Do not use “weed and feed” type products that include pesticides. Not only do the pesticides contaminate the environment, they also can be harmful to children and pets. It is best to manually remove weeds, or spot treat with an herbicide safe to use on lawns.
Lastly, with warm soil, cooler air temperatures, and rain more available, autumn is a good time to reseed bare spots. Some folks like to over-seed their entire lawns which is an opportunity to introduce new grass varieties into the lawn as well as making it thicker overall. Keep in mind that grass seed will not germinate if it is not in contact with soil, so it is helpful to add about a half inch of good quality topsoil wherever you are seeding and lightly rake in the seeds. Be sure to keep the area watered until the new grass is established.
It is important to not forget our lawns! A good practice is to keep a lawn and garden calendar with the tasks you would like to do and the approximate time of the year they should be accomplished. It is easy to overlook lawn chores with our busy schedules and many tasks need to be done at a specific time of year. While you are planning out the lawn tasks for this fall, you might as well plan out what you need to do in the spring too!
Wishing you a happy and healthy lawn in the years ahead. The links below may provide additional helpful information on caring for lawns.
For more insights on lawns in Ocean Shores:
https://gardenbytheseaoceanshores.org/garden-carpets/
For info on how to renovate your lawn:
https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2076/2021/06/C068-Lawn-Renovation-21.pdf
For lawn care throughout the year and links to other great publications:
https://extension.wsu.edu/king/tip-sheet-11-lawns/
To download a complete lawn care guide for Western and Eastern Washington:
