Fall lawn care is not just raking leaves and picking up sticks. There’s some really smart tips to follow as the leaves change color and temperatures dip.

Mowing in the Fall is important

  • Lower your cutting height – As days shorter and sunlight fades, shorter grass allows the most sun to reach the crown of the grass plants. Cooler autumn temperatures won’t harm the root system like the heat of summer. Lowering your mower’s cutting height incrementally during the fall prevents disease and keeps your lawn greener.
  • Continue mowing – Routinely mowing will ease your lawn’s transition into dormancy. Some cool season grass and weeds will continue to grow. Mowing and trimming your lawn will control the weeds. Another benefit is shorter grass is less prone to trap leaves and falling twigs against your lawn.

Put your leaves to use

  • As gardeners attest, leaves are wonderful for composting and protecting beds during the winter. If you don’t deal will excessive leaves in your lawn consider mulching with your mower. We have great mulching kits for Hustler, Toro & Spartan riding mowers and nearly all walk power mowers have a mulch setting. Carbon rich leaf particles and nitrogen rich grass clippings provide necessary nutrients for your lawn.
  • Control your leaves – If you deal will a lot of leaves, then you must collect excess leaves and debris. Power blowers act as gas powered rakes quickly moving leaves into piles. Use excess leaves to protect your garden during the cold months, composting bins or add them to your mulch beds.
  • Protect plants with leaves – Just like wood mulch, leaves help to warm bulbs, shrubs and tree roots from frigid weather. Leaves certainly lack the uniform beauty of wood mulch but they are effective at protecting your plants. When cleaning mulch beds, planting bulbs and trimming shrubs in the fall consider using excess leaves as a base layer between the soil and wood mulch.

Guarding Trees and Shrubs

  • Trim trees and bushes – The first step to healthy trees and shrub is regular trimming. Hand trimming is an option for small plants while gas powered hedgetrimmers quickly shape and repair large shrubs and hedgerows. Clean and tidy plants are better prepared for harsh weather ahead this winter.
  • Cleaning Mulch Beds – Fortifying your mulch beds in the fall is vital. Mulch beautifies your lawn but it also serves to regulate temperature and moisture around your trees, shrubs and flower beds.
  • Loosen compacted soil and mulch – Using a hand rake, loosen compacted soil and mulch especially near the roots of plants and trees. Pay attention to remove mulch from the root flare and plants. Compacted mulch may suffocate roots or trap moisture against otherwise healthy plants.
  • Use excess leaves – Mulch beds should be 2-3″ thick heading in the winter. A layer of fallen leaves under your wood mulch is a cheap and effective way to thicken mulch beds.
  • Remove excess mulch – Avoid mulch volcanoes especially around trees. Landscapers rarely remove mulch prior to adding fresh mulch. This results in large piles in the shape of volcanoes around tree trunks. The root flare should be visible at ground level.

Repair weak points in your lawn

  • After I aerate, fertilize and seed in the fall, I always find a few the weakened areas in the lawn. There are some easy all-in-one mixtures available through local hardware stores and garden centers.
  • Patching protects the root systems of the healthy grass around these weak areas during the winters.

Prepare outdoor power equipment for winter storage

  • The best way to ensure your lawnmower and other equipment starts each spring is storing properly in the fall.
  • After the final mowing of the season, preparing your mower will our customized tune up kits is a great first step.
  • Our Winter Service program performs a complete tune up and includes FREE pick up and delivery.
  • Our Complete Checklist is our most complete breakdown on draining fuel, prepping engines and cleaning your equipment