Fall Lawn Care Tips for San Jose, CA

Fall in San Jose, California is very similar to spring. While both seasons need less lawn care than the summer, it’s still important to follow certain practices during the fall because a damaged lawn can lead to weed, pest and disease problems. Below are fall lawn care tips that will keep your healthy and green.

Mowing

Keep in mind warm-season grasses will not be grow too quickly during this period. That’s why you should mow your lawn only once every 7 to 14 days.

Remember to sharpen your lawn mower blades at least once per year: a dull blade can damage your grass blades, which will make them more susceptible to diseases. The beginning of spring or the end of fall are good times to sharpen your lawn mower blades.

Regardless of what kind of grass your lawn has, make sure you never remove more than a third of your grass height at a time. Cutting beyond a third will shock your turf and cause it to need more water and fertilizer. Instead, it’s better to mow more frequently, cutting off lower amounts of grass, and allowing the small grass clippings to act as a natural fertilizer for your lawn.

Fertilizing

While the best time to fertilize your lawn is during peak growing season, it’s also important to make a few fertilizer applications to allow your grasses to stay green through the winter. The most common grass type in San Jose is warm-season grass. That’s why it’s important to make two nitrogen-only fertilizer applications: once in September, and once in October.

Make sure these are not complete fertilizers. Since you already applied them in the spring, your soil will not require any more phosphorus or potassium. This extra nitrogen added to the soil will keep nutrient levels balanced, allowing your turf to keep its green color and grow roots strong enough to survive through colder temperatures.

Watering

While warm-season grasses will no longer be in their growing season in the fall, it’s still important to check if your lawn receives enough water. Try watering during the early morning between 2 and 8 AM so it reaches the roots better.

Be careful not to overwater your lawn though. Weeds and other pests grow easier if there’s excess water. In order to check this, push a screwdriver into your soil and see how deep the moisture goes. Water your lawn if the top 2 inches of your soil are dry.

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.