Fall Tasks You Can Apply To Benefit Your Yard

Although the end of the growing season is approaching or has been stunted by the first frost, you don't want to ignore your yard until spring. There are some essential tasks you need to complete to help your yard get over the damage of a long hot summer. Be sure you boost your yard for fall and this upcoming winter so it can remain as healthy as possible for next year's growing season by following these tips.

Fertilize Your Lawn

Fertilizer for your lawn in the fall is the perfect way to combat any winter stress that will likely be upcoming for your lawn. And the right type of fertilizer should be heavy in nitrogen to help keep it growing well and boost its blade development through into the winter. 

When you are shopping for fertilizer, look at the first number of the fertilizer's nutrients, which tells you the amount of nitrogen. The first number should be higher than the following two numbers, such as 25-5-5. Use a fertilizer spreader to evenly distribute this formula of fertilizer onto your lawn a few weeks before the ground freezes, which may be the end of September or beginning of October, depending on your local climate.

If you have a landscaper who has been taking care of your lawn, ask them to apply this type of fertilizer. Then you may want to follow it up with a fertilizer high in phosphorus a few weeks later to promote the lawn root growth into the beginning of winter.

Reduce and Control Weeds

Fall is also a good time to work on tackling any weeds in your lawn and in surrounding landscaping areas. With the cooler temperatures weed growth begins to slow, including the late-summer weeds, such as dandelions. Spot treat areas of your lawn for individual weeds, carefully applying a broad-spectrum herbicide to the leaves of the weeds. You can also use a manual approach of removing the entire weed from your lawn or flower bed with a spade or shovel. 

If you have any bedding areas where you have implemented a weed barrier below your mulch ground covering, take some time to spruce up its condition. Push aside any remaining bark with a garden rake and repair any damaged, torn, or missing landscaping fabric and reapply adequate soil stakes to keep the barrier in place. Be sure you overlap the edges of the landscape fabric by at least one foot to prevent aggressive weeds from making their way through the barrier.

For more information, contact a lawn fertilization service or weed control service in your area.


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