Being a homeowner means being proactive, this means preparing your grass for winter. It can be easy to forget about lawn care in the fall, and it may seem like you don’t need to do as much for it as the temperatures start to drop. But it’s vital to perform this process before the first frost of the year. As with all things pertaining to your house, your lawn is part of the greater investment. A great lawn will instantly catch the eye of a potential buyer, whereas a bad lawn will have the opposite effect, so if you’re shooting for a spring home sale, now is the time to maximize your lawn’s appeal.
The process begins with aeration. Aerating your lawn essentially opens up the ground to receive seed, and allows for current strong roots to receive proper nutrients. Aerating in the fall also allows your grass to spread and grow without competition from spring weeds. Aeration also breaks up compacted turf, essentially revitalizing your root beds. You can get a hand Aerating tool, which is labor intensive at any home improvement store, or you can rent an aeration machine at approximately $20/hour.
The next step is seeding. Seeding is the most important part of the project. It’s important to not go cheap with your seed. You can get a 15 pound bag for $35, but you run the risk of having grass that dies when the first frost rolls around. Instead, opt for the more expensive seed. You can get a 15 pound bag of Kentucky Bluegrass seed for $55. With seed, you get what you pay for, and that extra $20 will seem like a bargain when your grass is thriving in early spring.
Step three is fertilizing, choose a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus for maximum root growth. It is also prudent to find one that is high in nitrogen which is essential for shoot and root growth.
The final step is mulching, and a quick way to properly mulch your lawn is to use the leaves that have fallen. By adding a mulching blade to your lawn mower and grinding the leaves you can create a cocoon for your grass to grow tin during the winter months.
Our lawn is living plant, and it needs to be taken care of in order to maximize its value. By being proactive in the fall, you can be the talk of the neighborhood in the spring.
What kind of tips have you picked up regarding lawn maintenance and care in the fall? Please leave your thoughts/ideas in the comment section below!
