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…