It looks like the hot, dry summer weather has finally broken! June, July and the first part of August were unusually hot and dry this year. As a result, everyone’s lawns are going into the fall much more stressed and weak than normal. However, a little preparation now, can likely mean your best lawn ever come next spring and summer.

Aeration

The first step is aerating the soil. An aerator pulls plugs out of your soil. This helps loosen compacted soil and allows air and water to reach the roots. This helps your roots grow more deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn for next spring. In turn, that better prepares the grass for the heat and stress of the summer months. Aerating is also the best way to dethatch your lawn since it puts less stress on it. By aerating in the late summer, you give your lawn a fall growing season and a spring growing season to deepen roots a prepare for next summer.

Fall Seeding

When aeration is combined with a late summer or early fall reseeding, you double your benefit. Not only does the aeration help your existing grass, but disturbing the top soil also gives your new seeds a great way to make contact with the earth to ensure better germination rates and a thicker more healthy lawn. By giving these seedlings a typically cooler fall and moister growing season, they will be well prepared for winter and a great spring to come.

Fall Fertilization

The final step is giving your existing grass and new seedlings enough food to hibernate for the winter. Although our cool season grasses that stay green all year technically don’t hibernate, they do nearly stop their growth process. Think of fall fertilization as the way you prepare your lawn with proper nutrients to build it up for a long winter’s nap. Once the warm rays of spring hit it, your lawn will be in a much better position and get jump start on the spring growing season.

There you have it! Our three-step process for the fall, to have your best lawn yet next summer. We are booking quickly, so don’t wait too long to call so that your lawn has as much opportunity as possible to prepare for winter.