- Rake vigorously\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Dethatch if needed\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Aerate so your soil can breathe\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Overseed\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Fertilize, but perform a soil test first\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Get rid of wicked weeds\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Do your last mow of the season\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Water is still required\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Shut down your sprinkler system\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
- Get your yard ready for winter\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ol> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
![\"Rake](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/rake-leaves_800.jpg\")
Peggychoucair<\/a> | Pixabay <\/figcaption><\/figure> 1. Rake vigorously <\/span><\/h2>
New England\u2019s fall could be designated the season of colors. However, those magnificent maples and other deciduous trees eventually blanket your lawn with their gorgeous leaves. You\u2019ll probably need to rake at least every three to four days to avoid mounds of leaves that will: <\/p>
- Block sunlight, water, and other nutrients from penetrating the soil<\/li>
- Possibly cause a disease or lawn decay<\/li>
- Invite unwanted pests<\/li>
- Stunt new grass growth<\/li> <\/ul>
Pro Tip: <\/strong>Instead of raking, consider mulching the leaves<\/a> into small enough pieces to allow for decomposition. Also, be sure the lawn is dry<\/a> Otherwise, ruts can result. <\/p>
If your property has many trees, a leaf blower might be a more efficient way to handle the job. There are several options to consider, such as corded and battery-powered blowers.<\/p>
Check with your town\u2019s regulations or contact the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse<\/a> for local guidelines before using any power tools, especially a blower. Your area could possibly be restricted to certain hours. <\/p>
Finally, don\u2019t trash those leaves! If you don\u2019t already have one, start a compost pile<\/a> and add in the leaves. Leaf compost contains nutrients and carbon, an essential component for photosynthesis which aids in lawn growth and health. <\/p>
![\"Illustration](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/thatch-illustration.jpg\")
Infographic by Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure> 2. Dethatch if needed <\/span><\/h2>
If your lawn feels spongy when you walk on it, has excessive weeds or patchy brown spots, you might have a thatch problem.<\/p>
To determine if you need to dethatch: <\/p>
- Slice out about a 2-inch thick wedge from your lawn<\/li>
- Measure the brown or spongy layer between the soil surface and the base of the grass blades<\/li>
- If the layer is more than 1\/2 inch thick, it\u2019s time to dethatch<\/li> <\/ul>
Thatch<\/a> is an intermingled layer of dead and living organic matter collected between the soil and grass. A layer less than \u00bd inch actually acts as a blanket for your lawn and protects against temperature fluctuations, drought and weeds. However, if allowed to remain and grower thicker, it can lead to:<\/p>
- Grass decay and fungal diseases<\/li>
- Lessen the flow of air, water, and fertilizer<\/li>
- Influx of unwanted insects<\/li> <\/ul>
How to prevent thatch buildup:<\/p>
- Apply the proper fertilizer<\/li>
- Apply pesticides when needed<\/li>
- Mow your grass at the proper height <\/li>
- Maintain the right mowing frequency <\/li>
- Maintain proper amount of nitrogen <\/li>
- Have the proper irrigation practices<\/li> <\/ul>
What\u2019s dethatching<\/a>? It\u2019s the removal of the excessive layer of thatch with powerful, energetic raking. <\/p>
Dethatching methods include: <\/p>
- Manual dethatcher \u2014 best for small lawns with a slight thatch problem; labor intensive<\/li>
- Electric\/corded thatcher \u2014 ideal for medium-sized lawns with a mild to medium problem<\/li>
- Power rake \u2014 works well for large, dense lawns with a significant thatch problem<\/li>
- Verticutter<\/a> \u2014 extremely efficient for large lawns with a very serious thatch problem<\/li> <\/ul>
Pro Tip: <\/strong>The best time to dethatch your cool-season grass<\/a> is early fall, while the grass is actively growing, soil is moist and taking in nutrients, and can recover from injury quickly. <\/p>
![\"illustration](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_aeration.png\")
<\/figure> 3. Aerate so your soil can breathe <\/span><\/h2>
If you want your grass to grow thick and healthy, aerate after you\u2019ve removed the thatch. The process of aeration<\/a> removes small plugs of soil to create small holes. This loosens and opens up the soil to allow water, oxygen, and other nutrients to tunnel to the roots. <\/p>
Fall is the ideal time to aerate cool-season grasses. The second best time is spring.<\/p>
You need to aerate if you have: <\/p>
- Heavy foot, vehicle or large equipment traffic<\/li>
- Dense, thick, clay soil<\/li>
- Compacted soil<\/li> <\/ul>
Benefits of aeration include:<\/p>
- Increases circulation and the flow of air, water, and nutrients<\/li>
- Breaks up soil and reduces compaction<\/a><\/li>
- Stimulates root growth<\/li>
- Reduces the need for fertilizer and pesticide<\/li>
- Stymies the occurrence of disease, fungus, and pests<\/li> <\/ul>
How to aerate:<\/p>
- Spike- or solid-tine aerators work best for minimal compaction<\/li>
- Core aerators<\/a> are well-suited for advanced damage or compaction. <\/li> <\/ul>
While you could rent a core aerator from a garden center, it\u2019s costly to do so and requires a certain skill level and energy. Give yourself a half-time break and call in a pro for this task. <\/p>
![\"Overseeding\"](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/overseeding-800.jpg\")
Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> 4. Overseed <\/span><\/h2>
Overseeding<\/a> is a relatively simple process that assists in replenishing your lawn with new, healthy growth. You aren\u2019t creating a new lawn, but rather, filling in thinning areas or bald spots in your lawn. <\/p>
The optimum time is early fall when the air temperatures are cooler, which provides ideal conditions for germination. Also, the grass retains moisture and the seeds will thrive before the frigid winter temps and summer heat. <\/p>
How to overseed:<\/p>
- Mow your lawn to about 2 inches high<\/li>
- Dethatch <\/li>
- Aerate <\/li>
- Apply compost<\/li>
- Perform a soil test<\/a><\/li>
- Fertilize, if necessary <\/li>
- Spread seed <\/li>
- Rake gently to spread seed <\/li>
- Water daily <\/li>
- Seeds should be moist, not soggy<\/li> <\/ul>
Reasons why you should overseed:<\/p>
- Reduces weeds <\/li>
- Fills in bare spots <\/li>
- Improves overall lawn density <\/li>
- Energizes the lawn\u2019s health and color <\/li> <\/ul>
![\"Grass](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/grass-soil-horizontal-view.jpg\")
Oregon State University<\/a> | Flickr | CC BY-SA 2.0<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure> 5. Fertilize, but perform a soil test first <\/span><\/h2>
Don\u2019t just assume your lawn needs fertilizer. You\u2019ll need to do a soil test first to determine the exact nourishment your specific cool-season grass needs.<\/p>
Lawns require a mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This is referred to as the N-P-K ratio. On your fertilizer bag it might say \u201c15-0-10,\u201d which means it contains 15% nitrogen, 0% phosphorus, and 10% potassium. <\/p>
How to conduct a soil test: <\/p>
- Dig about 3 inches into the soil with a small shovel <\/li>
- Gather 10-15 samples <\/li>
- Combine the samples from the same area <\/li>
- Place in a sealed, plastic bag <\/li>
- Do not collect wet soil <\/li> <\/ul>
You can obtain a soil kit from your local extension office<\/a> who will provide you with explicit directions.<\/p>
Now that you have the results of your soil test, you know what to look for in your fertilizer. <\/p>
Fertilizer is important because it;<\/p>
- Promotes grass density and growth <\/li>
- Stymies weeds<\/li>
- Promotes a rich green color <\/li>
- Reduces the need for pesticides<\/li>
- Encourages heat, drought, and cold resistance <\/li>
- Reduces water runoff<\/li> <\/ul>
You can spread fertilizer via a drop spreader for targeted applications, or a broadcast spreader for a large area. Liquid or water-soluble fertilizers are also available but do not provide an even application. <\/p>
![\"Gloved](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/weeding_800.jpg\")
photoAC<\/a> | Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure> 6. Get rid of wicked weeds <\/span><\/h2>
Weeds appear in many shapes and sizes and invade your landscape. They often camouflage as pretty little flowers. But don\u2019t be deceived! <\/p>
Here\u2019s why those wicked weeds need to be controlled:<\/p>
- Weeds push the good plants out of the way<\/li>
- They prevent grass and other plants from thriving<\/li>
- Weeds harbor unwanted insects<\/li>
- They impede water flow<\/li> <\/ul>
The following list includes some of Connecticut\u2019s most common weeds<\/a>: <\/p>
- Crabgrass<\/li>
- Henbit<\/li>
- Creeping Charlie<\/li>
- Nutsedge<\/li>
- Prickly lettuce<\/li>
- Broadleaf plantain<\/li>
- Dandelion<\/li> <\/ul>
Apply a pre-emergent herbicide<\/a> to prevent a spring invasion. However, if they have invaded your fall landscape, hit them with a post-emergent herbicide<\/a>. <\/p>
Before a pre-emergent herbicide application, the ground temperature should be 55 degrees for at least 48 hours. The ground should be dry with no rain in the forecast. <\/p>
Apply a post-emergent herbicide when the daytime temperature is under 85 degrees but above 55 degrees for at least three consecutive days. Do not apply if rain is predicted, and wait at least three days before mowing. <\/p>
![\"Blue](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/blue-lawnmower_800.jpg\")
minionsquad<\/a> | Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure> 7. Do your last mow of the season <\/span><\/h2>
If the air temperature remains between 55 and 75 degrees, your cool-season grass continues to grow. Once it gets below 55, you\u2019ll notice the decline in growth. However, it\u2019s imperative to mow your lawn before Old Man Winter blows through. Unsightly matted grass becomes susceptible to diseases like snow mold. <\/p>
Follow these recommended mowing heights for cool-season grasses: <\/p>
- Dethatch if needed\u00a0<\/a><\/li>
![\"Sprinkler](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/sprinkler-water-lawn_800.jpg\")
![\"Frozen](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/icicles-3529002_1920_800.jpg\")
![\"Tree](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/trim-trees_800.jpg\")