After the hot Dallas summers, the cool brisk weather is more than welcome as fall is finally upon us. Along with pulling out fall decorations and apparel, comes the transitional period to take care of your homes outdoor space. There are a few things to do to make sure that you and your home are ready for cooler temperatures. Whether you are a new or a seasoned homeowner, refreshing on fall lawn care tips never hurts!
Here are a few tips to help you prepare your lawn for a seasonal transition in Dallas.
1. Continue To Mow
Regardless of the season, a rule of thumb when it comes to mowing is to never cut more than one-third of the height. Cutting your lawn too short can make it susceptible to diseases. Continue mowing even after summer to keep the lawn healthy. When the majority of the growth has stopped you won’t have to mow as often as you would in the summer months.
Source: Bill Smith (CC BY 2.0)
2. Fertilize
Mulch the grass as you mow the lawn. The grass clippings act as an organic fertilizer by applying the required nutrients to your grass while they decompose. In the fall, fertilizing your lawn will help protect it and keep it healthy when the cool weather rolls in. Before fertilizing your grass on your own, make sure you know what type of grass you have in order to choose the correct fertilizer. This should be a granulated fertilizer that is applied to the lawn using a manual spreader.
3. Discard Weeds
Weeds are a constant problem and hassle to keep them away from your garden and lawn. Fall is one of the best times to treat for weeds allowing you enough time to completely discard of all the weeds before growth begins in the spring. When pulling weeds, it is important to grab the root in its entirety. Snipping the roots at ground level won’t remove it and it will be able to grow back.
Source: allispossible.org.uk (CC BY 2.0)
4. Aerate
During the summertime, it’s safe to say that your lawn gets a lot of traffic. With heavy traffic comes compact, when the soil is compacted it can’t retrieve the vital nutrients needed to sustain healthy grass. Aerating your lawn breaks up the soil and allows it to “breathe.” If you aren’t familiar with core aeration, using a designated aerator pulls up plugs of dirt exposing the grass’ roots to necessary oxygen and nutrients.
Fall lawn care may not seem like it’s that important, but in order to maintain a lush lawn in Dallas–it’s crucial to practice proper lawn care maintenance year round.
Have questions about lawn care? Visit our Dallas lawn care page for more information.
Featured image source: Zillow
