As of September 22nd, autumn is officially here. The air has started to chill, and the leaves are changing colors, getting ready to fall. All the hard work you did in your yard this summer will soon be covered with a blanket of snow. While it is tempting to just sit back and wait for winter, there are things you can do now that will save you a lot of headaches…and brown patches when spring comes. If you follow this step-by-step checklist, you will have a fuller, healthier lawn when the snow melts with less work.
1. Rake and Remove Leaves
It is always pretty when the leaves start to change colors, but it is also a sign of the headache that is to come. Raking leaves is a chore and a half, but leaving them on your lawn smothers your grass, blocks the sunlight, and traps moisture. Leaving this until spring will make the work that much harder, and your grass will be left starved for sunlight.
Pro tip: Using a mulcher to shred the leaves into smaller pieces is a great way to feed your lawn and creates less yard waste to manage.
2. Keep Mowing, But Adjust the Height
It’s not time to put the mower away just yet. Although things are starting to change color now that it is fall, the grass keeps growing until the first frost. As you continue to mow, lower your mower blade so the grass is about 2-2.5” tall before winter. If you leave it too long, it will be pushed down by the snow, which may cause diseases. If you cut it too short, you will expose the roots to the cold, which will kill the grass, and it won’t come back in the spring.
Pro tip: Making sure that you gradually lower your blade will help protect your grass from the elements as the temperatures start to change.
3. Aerate the Soil
Over time, your soil compacts, which makes it hard for air, water, and nutrients to reach your grass’s roots. These are all the things your grass needs to grow thicker. If you have brown patches in your yard, compacted soil may be the problem, and the solution is aeration! Fall is the perfect time to aerate your lawn. These holes allow your grass to get the things it needs to survive winter and thrive in spring.
Pro tip: Time your aeration right after a good rainfall or give your lawn a good watering before you aerate. This will help you get the most out of your hard work, allowing the aerator’s tines to go deeper into the moist soil. This will create the perfect holes for fall fertilizer and overseeding to take root.
4. Fertilize for the Season Ahead
Fall fertilization is like stocking the pantry in preparation for winter. Your grass needs a hearty “last meal” before taking on the cold weather. If you feed your grass in the fall, you will see the payoff in early spring with a greener, healthier lawn.
Pro tip: It’s all about picking the right fertilizer. For your fall fertilization, you want to go with a slow-release, nitrogen-rich fertilizer to help strengthen your grass’s roots and build reserves that carry through until spring.
5. Overseed Bare Spots
The summer heat could have left your grass thin and patchy. If you’re looking to change that for next year, then it is time for some overseeding. The fall’s cooler temperature makes this time of year perfect for new grass to take root. In spring, you will see those patchy spots blend right into the rest of your lawn.
Pro tip: After you overseed your lawn, make sure you are giving the new grass enough water if it is a dry fall. It is also best to overseed your lawn after you aerate to get the most out of your time and money.
6. Clean Up Garden Beds and Borders
If you’re focusing on that curb appeal, your lawn isn’t the only thing that needs work in the fall. It is important to weed, pull out dead plants and debris, and trim back perennials. This process helps prevent pests and diseases from taking root in the spring. It gives your yard a clean look and also makes for less work when the snow starts melting, allowing you to enjoy spring.
Pro tip: As you cut back your perennials, leave healthy ornamental grasses and seed-bearing plants like maiden grass, switchgrass, sedums, coneflowers, and seed heads from sunflowers or echinacea. These provide food and shelter for birds and beneficial insects in the winter months.
Final Thoughts
A good fall clean-up is like insurance for your lawn. It may take a weekend of effort, but the rewards are worth it—less work comes spring, fewer issues with pests and disease, and a greener, healthier lawn you can enjoy all season long. Don’t forget to give your tools a little TLC, too: clean and store rakes, trimmers, and mowers properly so they’re ready to go next year.
So, grab your rake, fire up the mower one last time, and give your lawn the care it deserves before winter sets in. Future-you (and your backyard) will thank you!
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