Cooler weather, pumpkin spice everything, and Saturday football is here! – even winter. Arguably, fall is the most important season of the year in terms of lawn care. It’s the time when your grass prepares for the barren, nutrient-poor winter months. It’s also when you prime your grass for good health the following spring.
Early fall is a critical time to apply a protective barrier to keep our lawns free from winter annuals. This application may also include a liquid fertilizer based on soil temperatures and other environmental conditions. Your Waynes Lawn Professional may also use this time to address tough-to-control perennial weeds like Dallisgrass and white clover. Fall applications to these weeds provide the best control.
Common winter weeds include Poa Annua, also known as Annual Blue Grass, which is a grassy weed that often grows in Bermuda and Zoysia lawns. Other common winter weeds include chickweed, bittercress, henbit, and wild onion.
You may be wondering, “What can I do to stop them?” Our experts here at Waynes recommend the following:
Warm Weather Grass Tips for Fall
Mowing
Continue to mow lawns until no new growth is noticeable.
Fertilize
Mid-September is the last chance to apply fertilizer, and it can also be a smart window to overseed thin areas and lime acidic soil. At this time and no later you can apply a “winterized” fertilizer. If you have a lawn care service, they will continue to monitor your lawn throughout the fall.
Weed Control
Apply a fall pre-emergent to control winter weeds within the first two weeks of September or when the soil is at or below 70 degrees 2 inches below the soil.
Leaf Control
No one wants to rake leaves 2 to 3 times a week, but it’s vital to keeping your lawn in good health. Left alone, fallen leaves develop a barrier that prevents sunlight from reaching the grass. Unraked leaves also create the ideal environment for grass-killing fungal diseases. You can mow the leaves, but it’s important to use a mower equipped with a collection bag so leaves are removed from your lawn and not just redistributed.
Weed Prevention
There are countless resources to help DIYers create a year-round lawn care plan for the grasses specific to their lawns. It is a daunting process so don’t get discouraged. As with most things, practice makes perfect but keep in mind that weather heavily affects your lawn’s overall health. If you use a lawn care service, they will be able to alter your lawn care management plan as needed and will keep you regularly updated on your lawn care responsibilities. For help with your Fall Lawn needs contact Waynes today!
