Autumn has arrived and with the holidays approaching and so much to do our lawns often get pushed to the bottom of our list. Autumn weather provides us with cooler temperatures and is the ideal time to prepare your lawn for the following spring. Many people are under the impression that your lawn requires less maintenance in the fall because grass grows more slowly, but that is actually false. During the fall, grass is absorbing energy and nutrients in preparation for winter. If you give your lawn the care it needs now you will be pleased with your lush, healthy lawn in the spring. Here are 5 fall landscaping tips to help you maintain your lawn this season.
- Spread Extra Seed on Your Lawn. You will need to overseed your lawn if it has not grown in thick enough. You do not want a patchy lawn, so make sure to add plenty of seed to fill in problem areas.
- Start a New Lawn. A related task of fall landscaping is starting over on your lawn and planting a new one. This could be for various reasons including moving into a new property or because you have given up on your current lawn and the damage has already been done.
- Rake Up your Leaves. If leaves are not raked up in time, a think layer of fallen leaves will cast unnecessary shade over the grass below. It is necessary to rake up or blow away leaves so that they do not pile up and impede the growth of cool season grasses. If you do not want to rake up all the leaves a shortcut is to use a lawnmower fitted with a collection bag or vacuum system.
- Plant a Fall Garden or Prepare your Garden for Spring. Fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubbery. If you are interested in maintaining a vegetable garden then roots such as onions, carrots, and turnips and greens like lettuce, spinach and kale are great options to plant for fall in Georgia. Don’t forget to plant your spring bulbs! These flowers will bloom in the spring but they need to be planted in the fall.
- Get Rid of Weeds and Plant for Fall. If weeds like dandelions have taken over your lawn, now is the time to eradicate this problem. Weeds, like most plants, are in the energy-absorbing mode during the fall, and they are drinking in everything that comes their way, including weed killers. Apply an herbicide now so that the weeds won’t return in the spring.
Autumn is the perfect time to visualize your spring garden and plant accordingly. If all of this seems overwhelming, or you just don’t have the time to complete these tasks, contact the landscape experts at Mansell Landscape Management today. We offer ongoing landscape maintenance, as well as seasonal landscaping programs. Contact us today for more information about our services.