Don’t let your lawn care routine ‘fall behind’ this season
Autumn is a key time to prepare your lawn to not only endure the winter, but flourish in the spring.
Fall is one of the most beautiful times of year in Canada — it’s a magical opportunity to sit back and watch nature’s colours transform across the country.
While the days of lounging in your backyard are coming to an end, it’s not the time to let your lawn care routine ‘fall’ behind! Prep your lawn this fall for next year's spring season, with these five easy tips.
1. Keep your lawn clean
Clear your lawn of any children's toys as well as tree leaves as they decay and become soggy.
Stay on top of mulching fallen leaves by running over the lawn with a mulching mower every couple of days in late fall and let the mulched leaves lay behind.
(Getty Images)
2. Mow low
In late fall, it’s best to mow your grass low. But try not to cut your grass blades too short, or you could run the risk of a weed outbreak.
The rule of thumb is to cut your lawn 2-3 centimeters shorter than you have the rest of the growing season to prepare for winter.
3. Aeration
If your lawn is a high traffic area for sports, BBQs, or family gatherings, it may be best to aerate every 1-2 years in early Fall. But what are the benefits of aeration?
A well-loved lawn can cause a lawn’s top layer of soil to get compacted, creating a sort of barrier that blocks essential nutrients from sinking deep into your soil.
An aerator works to break up that top layer by pulling plugs out of your soil, so that moisture, air, and nutrients can reach roots easier.
Aeration is quite simple yet effective and early fall is one of the best times of year to do it. And remember to keep the soil plugs on hand as they are great to spread over your lawn after you overseed.
4. Overseed your lawn
Fall is a great time to give your lawn a good feeding. The season comes with a mix of warm soil, cool air, and lots of rainfall — the perfect combination for planting grass seed.
It also allows ample time for new grassroots to develop before winter sets in.
A high-quality grass seed is great for promoting thicker and greener grass, thanks to its time-releasing essential nutrients.
5. Use a fertilizer
Fertilizing in the fall gives your lawn the nutrients it needs to store up energy for next year's spring.
Try to use a lawn fertilizer filled with essential nutrients that help strengthen roots and improve winter hardiness.
With a high-quality fertilizer, you’ll have thicker and greener grass that can better withstand winter’s weather elements so you can enjoy next year’s spring season with minimal effort.
(Thumbnail credit: Getty Images)
