Sacramento Landscaping News

Local news from local Sacramento authors

Three Tips to for Fall Lawn Care

By John Irwin 

www.royalgardenlandscaping.com

Fall has arrived and it is time to take the steps to keep your lawn looking healthy for the coming year. Here are three steps to protect your lawn through the coming winter months.

1. Raise Your Mower
The first task is to make changes to your mowing method. Raise the height of your mower cut by ¼ inch above your summer mowing height, which will give you an ultimate mowing height of 1 ¼ inch. This will slow the rate of the grass growth. In addition, mow just once a week once the growth begins to slow.

2. Beaten Pathways
Many gardens may have beaten pathways that are tread-bare, sparsely populated by grass or compacted. Address these now to have them looking great for next season. Begin by driving the prongs of a garden fork approximately 6 inches into the compacted turf at various points throughout the affected area. This is a form of aeration and allows more air to reach the roots on compacted soils.

3. Feed Your Lawn
Lawns sometimes suffer from slow growth in the spring or during dry spells in the summer, so you may want to consider applying a lawn fertilizer to help develop strong roots and hardiness. Be sure the fertilizer you use is specifically formulated for autumn application. These fertilizers contain phosphates and potash, and omit nitrogen, which would cause unwanted growth.

As well as being a good month for reseeding bare areas, September is a good time to plant new lawn from seed.

John Irwin is a professional landscaper in the Sacramento and El Dorado Hills area. He has been in business for more than 18 years. For more tips and strategies on creating the yard of your dreams visit: www.royalgardenlandscaping.com.