9 Essential Steps for Fall Lawn Care

The heat of summer has died away—and with it, the vitality of your green, lush lawn. How should you revive it? And can you protect it from the harsh winter temperatures and precipitation ahead?

Don’t worry—we’ve got all the fall lawn care secrets you need to know. Follow these nine essential steps for maintaining your lawn in the fall, and you’ll be ready for the spring growing season in no time.

What is Grass, Exactly?

Before we dive into how to maintain your lawn in the fall, let’s learn a little more about the makeup of grass. Grass grows from a seed and contains a root, crown (where the leaves sprout from), and leaf. About 70% of the plant is made up of water, with carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorous also present. 

Understanding the Importance of Fall Lawn Care

Grass is incredibly durable, but that doesn’t mean it should be neglected. While grass can care for itself after hardship or abuse because it is organic, you can also speed up its repair—and you can maximize that care during the fall months before the first freeze of winter. Incorporate these nine steps into your landscape lawn care plan to restore your grass’s health and vitality next spring.

9 Essential Steps for Fall Lawn Care

• Rake leaves 
• Mow your grass
• Adapt your watering schedule 
• Aerate your lawn
• Fertilize during the fall 
• Overseed grass or lay new sod
• Control weeds
• Address common fall lawn care issues
• Drain your irrigation system

1. Rake Leaves 

Fallen leaves can trap moisture and block sunlight, which causes huge issues for maintaining your fall lawn. Rake consistently—at least once a week after leaves start falling—and work in the direction of growth to avoid damaging the grass blades. (Use a leaf blower for faster results, but be mindful of wind direction and your neighbors’ lawns.) 

2. Mow Your Grass

Believe it or not, mowing your grass is a crucial element of fall lawn care. Even after summer is “officially” over, mow consistently until the first hard freeze occurs. Gradually reduce your blade height, but keep your grass about 3 inches tall throughout the fall for a healthy lawn.

3. Adapt Your Watering Schedule

Your grass needs about an inch of water every week to maintain its health. This amount doesn’t change throughout the year. If it’s not raining enough, set up a sprinkler and maintain your watering schedule until the first freeze occurs.

4. Aerate Your Lawn

Cultivate your lawn by aerating your soil when the season is right—typically best in the early fall. Aerate your lawn at a minimum every two years to prevent long-term soil compaction. 

5. Test Your Soil and Fertilize During the Fall 

Your soil’s nutrition is important—it is vital to maintaining your lawn during the fall. It’s important to perform a complete soil test early in the season to learn more about your lawn’s specific needs. It’s also helpful to have the results analyzed using a soil test interpretation to ensure you accurately understand the results and determine the nutrients your grass needs.

You’ll have many considerations when choosing an organic fertilizer. Your lawn’s needs are unique, which is why the soil test is your first and most helpful ally when determining which fertilizer to choose.

6. Overseed Grass or Lay New Sod

Grass seed is the seed from which new grass germinates, and the fall is a great time to plant it. Lay whole squares of new sod to revitalize larger sections of your lawn. You can also use a pelletized grass seed over your existing lawn to overseed and cultivate greener grass. (Some lawn care experts recommend overseeding with an opposite type of grass so you always have something growing.) No matter which way you choose to lay in new grass, fertilize and water thoroughly after application. 

7. Control the Weeds

As your lawn’s growing season concludes, fall is a great time to get rid of lawn weeds. Just apply an organic fertilizer that includes an herbicide or pull the weeds by hand or with a garden spade. You can also spot-treat weeds with an organic weed killer.

8. Address Common Fall Lawn Care Issues

While you’re preparing your lawn for the winter months, you may need to address some common fall lawn care issues as well. Fungus likes to grow in the cool and damp conditions that happen during the fall. To prevent fungi from taking root, avoid overwatering, continue to maintain a proper mowing height (usually around 3 inches tall), and apply a safe, organic fungicide if you regularly have issues with fungus. Also, trim trees and shrubs to improve air circulation, which will keep fungal conditions from spreading.

Autumn is also the time that certain lawn pests, such as grubworms, like to appear. Keep an eye on infestations and apply an organic pesticide, if needed.

9. Drain Your Irrigation System

This is a crucial step if you live in an area that regularly freezes during the winter: You should completely drain your lawn’s irrigation system before the first freeze. Either blow out your sprinkler system with compressed air (not exceeding 50 psi of air pressure) or use drain valves. For best results, turn off the water to the irrigation system and drain each zone separately.

Creating a Fall Lawn Care Schedule

There are a lot of steps to undertake to maintain your lawn throughout the fall. Here’s a suggested timeline for when to tackle the work—knowing that this may have to be adjusted depending on the weather conditions where you live:

• Early fall (September): Gradually adjust and reduce your mowing height, continue watering, and apply weed control if needed. Depending on where you live, you may be able to start raking at this time.
• Mid-fall (October): Aerate and overseed the lawn, apply your fall fertilizer, and begin raking if you haven’t already. If you live in an area that freezes early, drain your irrigation system before temperatures drop.
• Late fall (November): Perform a final round of weeding and continue to rake. If you live in a warmer area, drain your irrigation system now.
• Final winter preparation (December): Wrap up your raking before any snow falls and apply another round of fertilizer if it’s recommended for your area.

While maintaining your lawn during the fall can seem daunting, creating a lawn care routine during this season is crucial for healthy growth during the spring and summer months. Each lawn is unique, so some trial and error with the steps and timeline listed above will go a long way to creating the perfect fall lawn care system for your needs.