Fall in San Jose feels much like spring, with milder weather and less demanding lawn care compared to summer. However, it’s still crucial to maintain your yard during this season. These fall lawn care tips for San Jose will help you throughout the season:
Keep Mowing Before Winter
During fall, it’s important to keep mowing your lawn as long as it continues to grow. Stick to the golden rule of mowing: never remove more than one-third of the grass blades at a time. Cutting too much can stress your lawn, making it more susceptible to damage and disease.
Avoid the temptation to give your grass a short final mow of the season. Instead, err on the safe side and keep the height consistent to help your lawn stay healthy as it transitions into winter. Additionally, ensure your mower blades are sharp to make clean cuts, as dull blades can tear the grass and increase the risk of disease.
See Related:
— Mowing Height Debate: Last Mow of the Season Low?
— Lawn Mowing Tips: How to Mow a Lawn the Right Way
— How to Sharpen Lawn Mower Blades
Fertilize the Grass
Fall is the best time to fertilize cool-season grass in your San Jose lawn, but warm-season grass can also benefit from a fall application. Fertilizing in fall helps your lawn store nutrients and strengthens its roots for the months ahead. Here’s a simple schedule to follow for the area:
- Cool-season grass: Fertilize in late September or October with a complete fertilizer.
- Warm-season grass: Fertilize in September or October with nitrogen to help the grass retain better color and health as temperatures cool.
See Related:
— How to Fertilize Your Lawn
— Common Fertilizer Mistakes to Avoid
Water Wisely
Even during the cooler fall months, your lawn still needs about 1 inch of water per week to stay healthy. Keep an eye on the weather forecast to determine whether your lawn is getting enough water naturally. If an El Niño event brings heavy rains to San Jose, you likely won’t need to water at all.
Be careful not to overwater, as excess moisture can create the perfect conditions for lawn pests and lawn diseases to thrive. Monitor your lawn’s needs and ensure proper drainage to keep it healthy and ready for the winter months ahead.
See Related:
— How to Water Your Lawn in Fall and Winter
— Signs of Overwatering Your Lawn
— How to Test Soil Moisture
Dethatch Your Lawn
Your grass naturally produces a layer of organic matter, known as thatch, between the blades and the soil. While a thin layer of thatch is healthy and protects the soil, a layer that becomes too thick — over 1.5 inches — can prevent water, air, and nutrients from reaching the roots, weakening your lawn over time.
Dethatching helps remove this excess buildup, ensuring your grass gets the essentials it needs to thrive. Most lawns benefit from dethatching once a year, but some grass types, like tall fescue, may require it only every few years. For the best results, dethatch your lawn in early fall in San Jose.
See Related:
— When and How to Dethatch Your Lawn
— Can You Dethatch and Aerate at the Same Time?
— Benefits of Dethatching the Lawn
— How Much Does Lawn Dethatching Cost?
Thicken Your Lawn by Overseeding
If you have warm-season grass and want your lawn to stay green during the cooler months, consider overseeding with a cool-season grass like perennial ryegrass in the fall. This not only extends your lawn’s green period through winter but also makes it look thicker.
For the best results, overseed after dethatching and/or aerating your lawn. These processes improve seed-to-soil contact, ensuring better germination and growth.
See Related:
— How to Overseed a Lawn in 8 Simple Steps
— Clear Signs You Need to Overseed Your Lawn
— How to Overseed in the Fall With Fescue
— How to Aerate and Overseed Your Lawn
DIY or Hire a Pro: Get Your Lawn Ready for Winter
Fall is the perfect time to give your San Jose lawn the care it needs to stay healthy through the cooler months and come back strong in the spring. Need help preparing your lawn? Visit our San Jose lawn care page to get in touch with a professional! In addition to San Jose, we provide lawn care services in other California cities, including Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Riverside.
Read More:
— Best Grass Types in San Jose
— Best Types of Grass for California
— Should You Plant a Clover Lawn in California?
— California Native Grasses to Replace Your Lawn
— California’s Green Lawn Care Law
— Top FAQs About California’s Green Lawn Care Law
Main Image Credit: David Sawyer / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
