Fall Landscaping Tips: Aerate the Lawn and Feed the Grass

The fall season will soon be starting and now is the time to prepare your home and garden for the seasons ahead. For the next few weeks, we will be giving tips to keeping your lawn beautiful all fall and getting it prepared to survive the winter months. This week, we will be discussing aerating your lawn and feeding the grass. Good luck!

Aerate the Lawn

Over time, grass and soil can become compressed and compacted. This creates thatch, which is a thin layer of dead and decomposing grass between growing soil. As thatch grows, it prevents air, water and fertilizer from getting to the roots of your grass. This causes it to grow thinner and die.Aeration makes holes in the lawn and loosens the soil beneath. This lets oxygen, water and important nutrients reach the roots, resulting in lush, green grass.

A garden fork or aerator shoes can do the job on a small yard, but for larger lawns, it is best to use a walk-behind aerator that pulls out 2½-to 3-inch-deep soil plugs, which will break down naturally by spring.

Feed Your Grass

Fall is the best time to give your lawn a good feeding. As the weather begins to cool, your lawn will slow its top growth while the roots will continue to actively grow. A fall fertilizer application should be applied at the right time, when the plants are still absorbing nutrients. If the ground is frozen or the grass has stopped growing, it is too late. Feeding your lawn in the fall is crucial.

A fall feeding delivers vital nutrients to encourage deep root growth and will help your lawn to store essential nutrients over the winter. The storing process will continue as long as the plant is green. At the first sign of spring, your lawn will quickly tap into the stored nutrients, increasing the chances of you having a healthy green lawn.