In winter, your lawn goes dormant and doesn’t grow. Dormancy preserves the grass’s water, nutrients, and energy to help it survive the cold. By taking a few lawn care steps in the autumn, you help your plants make it through the cooler months. Use the guide below for proactive maintenance this season.

5 Lawn Care Tips for Fall

1. Clean Up Leaves

A carpet of colorful autumn leaves might look nice, but it prevents light from reaching the grass below. A layer of foliage can also trap moisture beneath it, creating a damp environment that leads to mold, mildew, and fungi growth.

Schedule regular professional lawn cleanup to remove dead leaves from the lawn throughout the season.

2. Mow Shorter

Longer grass is ideal for summer as the taller blades shade the soil below, preserving moisture and protecting against the harsh sun.

In the fall, blades should be cut one to two inches shorter. If they’re too long, the grass will get matted and become more vulnerable to snow mold, a type of fungus. Professionals will mow the lawn to the right height.

3. Add Mulch

If you have bushes, trees, or flowerbeds edging your lawn, invest in mulching services.

A protective layer of mulch helps control soil temperature, keeping heat in and safeguarding the roots against snow and ice damage.

4. Aerate

During the summer, people spend more time outdoors. The increased foot traffic on your lawn compacts the soil, making it harder for nutrients, oxygen, and water to reach the grass roots.

Aeration creates small holes in the earth and reduces compaction so the grass gets the nutrients it needs. Professionals use specialized machinery to perform this service.

5. Fertilize

After aeration, schedule fertilization. A last feeding of winterizing fertilizer will infuse the soil with nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, and other nourishing nutrients. Fertilizing promotes strong root growth, making grass more resistant to cold, pests, and diseases.

If you need assistance getting your lawn ready for the winter, trust Pepper's Landscaping & Lawn Service Inc. of Trumbull, CT. Serving most of Fairfield County, these fully licensed and insured professionals have provided top-quality lawn care since 1985. Family-owned and -operated, they provide excellent customer service. Learn more about their offerings online, or call (203) 377-1596 for a free estimate.