Fall Lawn Prep

When the weather cools, it’s time to start planning yard prep for next season. Prepare while you can. A few steps can make a big difference, and who doesn’t enjoy a few “green with envy” neighbors come spring. :)

Prep

Mow your lawn in early fall slightly lower than usual. Follow with thatching and aerating. Adjust your mowing height to leave grass marginally higher on your next mow and follow with fertilizing and seeding.

Aerate

Did you know Cardinal Home Center has aerating and thatching tools available for rent at our Madison location? Aerating reduces compact ground and allows room for new seeds to grow. Thatching breaks up clumps of dead grass between soil and grass. These are both excellent ways to encourage growth and minimize insects and lawn diseases. Remove leaves and any debris before aerating and thatching. Tarps come in handy for raking large piles of leaves.

Fertilize

The next step is to fertilize. Best done in early fall, fertilizing is critical for cool-season grasses. It acts as a natural anti-freeze for cold conditions and provides the nutrients it needs to get through the winter. Follow the directions. They are all slightly different. Continue to remove leaves as often as possible. It and not a good idea to fertilize your lawn after the first frost. Chemicals can burn your grass and cause root damage.

Seed

Know your grass. Cool-season grasses such as fescue or Kentucky bluegrass are most popular in Central Virginia. And cool grass grows best when seeded in fall when temperatures are optimal for seeds to generate. You can seed right after you fertilize.

If not adding topsoil, spread a thin layer of straw to keep the soil moist, protect seeds and give them a better chance for success. You can remove the straw once the grass has grown tall enough for a first mowing or allow it to decompose.

Avoid too much lawn traffic and step back and admire your work. You’ve just given your lawn every opportunity to come back lush and green next spring.

Here’s a comprehensive list of lawn care supplies available at Cardinal Home Centers in Madison and Crozet.

Supply List

Fertilizer, grass seed, straw, spreaders, rakes, spading fork, poly tarps, gloves, lawn and leaf bags,