FAQ: What maintenance does my warm-season or cool-season lawn need in the fall?

Answer: Cool-season and warm-season grasses have different needs going into the fall. Cool-season turfgrass needs aeration and overseeding to strengthen it for overwintering. Warm-season grasses need continued fertilization and weed control to prepare for dormancy.

In this blog post, you’ll learn the following information about fall lawn maintenance:

• 5 top tips to prepare your warm-season lawn for dormancy
• 4 hacks to prepare your cool-season lawn for the following spring
• Remember to cleanup your lawn of leaves and prep your trees before winter storms

5 Top Tips to Prepare Your Warm-Season Lawn for Dormancy

If you live in the southern, western, or the Mid-Atlantic transitional belt, you have warm-season grasses growing in your lawn. Warm-season grasses grow when temperatures consistently reach 80°F to 95°F.

When September rolls around, it’s time to switch gears caring for your warm-season lawn. Here are five top tips for preparing your lawn for winter dormancy:

1. Fertilization: Since warm-season turfgrasses are slowing down for the season, you don’t want to apply a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer. Instead, use a balanced or phosphorous-rich fertilizer that encourages root development over the winter. 
2. Weed control: When nighttime reaches 65°F to 70°F, you can use pre-emergent weed control to prevent cool-season grassy weeds from popping up on your lawn.
3. Mowing practices: As we move from September to October, you want to mow your lawn until it stops growing in October. Mow it short at the last cut, but don’t scalp it. 
4. Soil testing and pH adjustment: Fall is the perfect time to take soil samples to check for pH and nutrient levels. If your pH is above or below 6.2 to 7.0, you’ll need to add soil amendments to get it to the pH level of 6.2 to 7.0. If your soil tests come back showing the ground is too acidic, use pelletized lime, and if your soil test results show your lawn is over 7.0, you’ll need sulfur to get it back to slightly acidic. 
5. Irrigation adjustment: The fall months bring more rainfall, so you must adjust your automatic sprinkler system. Remember, your lawn only needs 1-1½” of water per week, including rain. Some irrigation controllers have seasonal adjust built right into the programs.

 

4 Hacks to Prepare Your Cool-Season Lawn for the Following Spring

Cool-season lawns keep growing until a freeze stops growth for the season. Cool-season turfgrass needs more TLC going into the fall to prepare it for winter dormancy and early spring green-up.
Here are five hacks you need to know to prep your cool-season lawn for the following spring:

1. Core aeration and overseeding: You can rent an aerator from a big box retailer. Core aeration involves taking cores out of your lawn to relieve compacted soil. Aeration also allows the soil to take in nutrients, top dressing, compost, and oxygen. It also prepares turfgrass for overseeding. Use a spreader to plant grass seed soon after you aerate the soil. You want a solid seed-to-soil connection. You also want to add top dressing and other soil amendments after seeding to provide a nutritional boost. Lightly water your lawn twice a day until seedlings emerge above ground. Then, cut back watering to once a week.
2. Winter fertilization: If you only fertilize your lawn once a year, ensure it’s done in late fall before the first freeze. Winter fertilizer, called winterizer, contains a 2:1 ratio of nitrogen to potassium. Potassium helps to develop turfgrass’s root development and increase cold resistance. Potassium also provides nutrients and builds turf resistance to cold-weather stress and mold. Nitrogen helps turfgrass boost carbohydrates so the grass has enough food over the winter.
3. Final mow: You want to keep cutting your lawn into November. Once there’s a freeze, you can stop mowing. Another hack: mow your grass shorter without scalping it at the last mow so turf doesn’t get weighed down with snow.
4. Closing up your sprinkler system for winter: If you live in the northern U.S., where daytime temperatures can drop below 32°F, you must close out your automatic water sprinkler for the season. Check out our blog, Why Your Sprinkler System Needs To Be Winterized, for more information.

  

Remember to Cleanup Your Lawn of Leaves & Prep Your Trees Before Winter Storms

Fall brings a dazzling array of gorgeous colors as tree leaves go from shades of green to reds, oranges, and yellows. Mother Nature’s wow factor never ceases to be awe-inspiring.

These lovely leaves also fall onto your lawn and need to be removed before they smother your healthy turfgrass.

You don’t want tree leaves, seed pods, and other debris to sit on your lawn in the fall and winter. Leaves trap moisture in your lawn, leading to mold and fungal diseases.

You can boost your turfgrass’s nitrogen supply using the mulching attachment on your mower. The mulching unit will chop leaves so that they decay and absorb into the soil.

You also want to check on your property’s trees. Do you see dead or weak limbs that should be pruned? You don’t want to wait until the first heavy snow or ice storm to bring down tree limbs.

Revolutionize Your Fall Lawn Care by Making Life Easier with K-Rain Sprinklers

While you’re cutting back on your watering in the fall, it’s still the perfect time to install a K-Rain sprinkler system on your property.

K-Rain irrigation products are made for the long term. You can be assured that you’re getting the best sprinklers, drip irrigation, and tree bubblers for your property. For example, our products are molded with high-impact resin for longevity.

Explore our sprinkler system products online, or buy your K-Rain products at The Home Depot and Lowe's.

Find a skilled irrigation contractor via our website for easy installation services.

Need help with K-Rain products? Contact our customer service team at 800-735-7246 or through our contact form.

Sources:
GolfCourseLawn.com, Soil Test Kit Results Back: What Next?
Pennington.com, Lawn Care Calendar for Cool-Season Lawns.
Ibid, Lawn Care Calendar for Warm-Season Lawns.
ThisOldHouse.com, The Ultimate Guide to Winter Fertilizer.