We took the time to assemble the perfect list for you to use as your Fall Lawncare Guide.  Take a look into that wonderful yard that has given you so much this summer, and give it the right attention before winter to insure the happiest spring!

Fall is a PERFECT time for mulching.

SPREAD MULCH

Fall mulching is better for the plants than spring mulching, as it helps protect roots from frost and helps retain moisture during a cold and dry winter.  Spread 2 to 3 inches of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees.

REMOVE THE DEAD AND DYING

Fall isn’t the time to prune, because that encourages growth when healthy plants should remain dormant.  Fall is the time to neaten your landscaping before putting it to bed for the winter.

• Remove dead annuals
• Deadhead spent blooms
• cut back dead and dried ornamental grasses and perennials
• Lightly prune dead and dying branches from shrubs and trees
• Remove dried blossoms from hydrangea, but don’t remove dead-looking stalks, where new buds will form in spring.

KEEP ON MOWING

Continue to water and mow your lawn, as needed, throughout the fall.  Then, as the season draws to a close, drop the mower’s blade to its lowest setting for the last two cuttings of the year. That will allow more sunlight to reach the crown of the grass.

Don’t wait – get those leaves off your yard.

RAKE THE LEAVES

It’s important to remove fallen leaves from your lawn as soon as possible. Leaving fallen leaves until they all have dropped will cause them to stick together and form an impenetrable mat that will suffocate the grass and breed fungal diseases.

FERTILIZE FOR FUTURE GROWTH

Most lawn experts agree: If you fertilize your lawn only once a year, do it in mid to late fall.  Grass leaves grow much slower as the weather cools, but grass roots and rhizomes continue to grow quickly.  A fall application of fertilizer delivers essential nutrients for the grass to grow deep roots now and to keep nutrients on reserve for a healthy start next spring.

WEED CONTROL

If broadleaf weeds like dandelions have taken over your lawn, now’s the time to fight back. Weeds, like most plants, are in the energy-absorbing mode during the fall. They’re drinking in everything that comes their way, including weed killers. Apply an herbicide now and the weeds won’t return in the spring.

FILL IN BALD SPOTS

Autumn is also a great time of year to fix any bare, bald spots in your lawn. The quickest, easiest way to do this is with an all-in-one lawn repair mixture.  This ready-to-use mixture contains grass seed, a special quick-starter lawn fertilizer, and organic mulch.

REMOVE EXCESS THATCH

De-thatching involves cutting through the thatch layer and ripping out the debris. Power rakes or vertical mowers are effective tools for this. Use a hand rake to remove the thatch from the lawn after it has been pulled out by one of these machines.

 AERATE

Fall is an ideal time to aerate your lawn so that oxygen, water, and fertilizer can easily reach the grass’s roots.  Aeration reduces thatch, improves drainage, and loosens soil.

APPLY A TOP DRESSING 

Top dressing means applying a thin layer of soil or compost to your existing turf. The process improves growing conditions by reducing thatch, increasing the amount of organic matter in the soil, smoothing bumps in the lawn, and lessening the need for fertilizer. Spread a thin layer of equal parts loam, sand, and peat. Be sure to de-thatch or aerate before you apply a top dressing. Then work the top dressing into the soil by raking it in.

DRAIN IRRIGATION LINES

Completely drain your lawn’s irrigation system before freezing weather arrives. You can empty the system with compressed air or use drain valves. For best results, shut off the water to the system and drain each zone separately. Also drain the main supply line from the house.

To see our full source of fall cleanup inspiration, take a read below:

https://www.houselogic.com/by-room/yard-patio/fall-landscaping-how-prepare-your-yard-winter/

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/how-to/a8031/fall-lawn-care-6-steps-to-take-right-now-12437723/

http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/fall-lawn-care-secrets/