Fall Lawn Care

Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-711 -- More Projects »
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As temperatures become colder, cut grass shorter. Leave it trimmed to about two inches by the end of the season.
Take care of lawn chores in the fall and reap the benefits in spring. First, give your lawn some breathing room by aerating the turf. You can rent an aerating machine by the hour at most rental centers. This machine removes small soil plugs, leaving holes that provide a direct path for air, water and nutrients to reach the grass roots. Aerating is especially necessary if the lawn is seven years or older.
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Figure A
Autumn is the best time of the year to fertilize your lawn. If you do it twice in the fall, you won't have to do it in the spring. To do this, you need a good lawn fertilizer (figure A) and a spreader to apply it. Once you've applied the fertilizer to your turf, water it thoroughly for best results.
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Figure B
Don't forget about seeding your lawn in the fall. It's a great time to start a new lawn or fill in the dead spots. Be sure to use a good quality lawn seed or try lawn patch--seed, mulch and fertilizer in a bag (figure B).

Finally, as temperatures become colder, it's important to cut grass shorter, leaving it trimmed to about two inches by the end of the season. Pick up excess debris, such as fallen leaves, to avoid turf problems next year.

Also in this Episode
Rebecca's Garden : Episode REB-711
•Drying Flowers
•Russell Toscano's Fall Centerpieces
•Fall Lawn Care