The work that produces lush beautiful summer yards and lawns starts in early spring–sometimes during the previous autumn. Getting the work done in the cool months when there is usually plenty of water pays dividends during hot dry summer months.
10 Fall and Spring Yard Tips
Summer is usually the time when lawns get the most use. The less maintenance your lawn needs in the heat, the healthier it remains and the better it looks.
Aerate
Lawn aeration removes small plugs of dirt and grass from the lawn. The holes allow oxygen, nutrients, and water to penetrate deeper into the soil to promote lawn growth. Aerate every one to three years–preferably in the fall or spring during peak growth periods. Grass recovers quickly at these times.
High-traffic areas should be aerated every year. Lawns growing in heavy clay soil compact easily and should also be aerated yearly. Most other soil types benefit from aeration every three years. You can rent aerators from home supply outlets, garden stores, or rental outlets. Or hire a professional landscaping company. The costs are often comparable.
Dethatch
Dethatching is another lawn maintenance project that should be done in the fall when the grass is growing best. Thatch is the accumulation of grass, leaves, and other detritus at the base of grass shoots. The thatch is beneficial if it is less than ½” thick. More than that should be removed to allow nutrients, water, and air to penetrate into the soil.
Dethatching can be accomplished with a dethatching rake or a rented power rake. Hiring a lawn care company is often a good idea because of the volume of material that must be disposed of. Dethatching 1000 square feet of lawn can produce around 80 cubic feet of material–before it is fluffed up with a rake.
Dethatch before aerating and fertilizing.
Fertilize
Fertilizing your lawn in the fall after dethatching and aerating allows nutrients to get into the soil and nourish grass root systems. Apply fertilizer again in the spring when grass growth is most vigorous. Do not fertilize in the heat of summer.
Use the correct fertilizer mix for your grass type and follow package directions. Improper fertilization can burn patches of grass.
Water – Especially Flower Beds
Most lawns need about one inch of water per week to stay healthy. Flowering plants require a little more if the soil is exposed to heat and evaporation. Water in the mornings before the heat of the day to allow for good absorption.
Inground automatic watering systems set to a timer enable you to water as required. Give the lawn and flower beds a good soaking two or three times each week to encourage the roots to grow deeper. Watering too often and too little causes roots to grow horizontally to get to the shallow amount of water. Set out a rain gauge to measure the amount of water your plants are getting.
If you live with water restrictions, water flower beds and gardens first. Grass goes dormant and turns brown to protect itself. It starts growing and turns green as soon as it gets enough water.
Add Mulch To Flower Beds
Adding mulch to flower beds keeps the moisture in the ground. Mulch is usually full of nutrients that the plants can absorb. Mulch is fairly inexpensive to buy, or you can make mulch if you own a chipper/shredder and have feedstock for it–like branches, trees, or large plants like sunflowers.
Mowing Properly
Never cut off more than ⅓ of the grass length. Always leave grass 2” – 3” long. Cutting grass too short increases the chances of damage to the growing stem, heat stress, and weed invasions. Leaving grass about ½” longer in summer provides more shade for the soil and slows down evaporation.
Keep lawnmower blades sharp to cut grass cleanly. Dull blades tear and damage grass. Use a mulching blade that chops grass clippings small and leaves them on the lawn to add nutrients to the soil. Cutting grass regularly produces small clippings that drop through standing grass to the ground. Long grass clippings lay on top of standing grass and can kill it if not picked up.
Reseed Dead Spots
Reseed lawn dead spots in spring when the soil is moist. They can be reseeded after dethatching or by working up the spots and applying seed. Use the same type of seed that is in the lawn now. Fertilize well and water on the same schedule as the rest of the lawn.
Build Footpaths Or Sidewalks
Installing footpaths of stone, wood, or concrete in well-traveled areas prevents soil compaction and broken grass stems when they are hot and dry. This applies to garages, gates, garbage enclosures, flower beds, or gardens.
Edging and Trimming
Edge flower beds, gardens, sidewalks, and driveways to give them a clean look. They are easier to work on when the dirt is soft and before grass and flower beds become overgrown.
Tree pruning is best accomplished from late fall through winter and into the early spring when trees are dormant and the sap is not running. Branches can be removed without damaging new leaf growth, flowers, or fruit. Different types of trees react best to different pruning times. Make sure you find the best times for your species.
Pests
Keep inspecting your yard for pests like slugs, ants, and rodents. Eliminate them early in the spring. They are easier to kill off with eco-friendly pesticides like diatomaceous earth (for slugs) or borax and icing sugar (for ants) when they are few in number. Avoid harsh chemical pesticides if possible.
You can’t ignore your lawn in the summer just because you took good care of it in the spring. It still needs water and mowing. Listen to weather forecasts and adjust the amount of watering as necessary. You still want about an inch per week.
Limiting foot traffic and games on hot dry days prevents crushed and broken grass blades. Cut the grass in the mornings when it is cool and strong and recovered from the heat of the day before.
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