FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE It’s time to get prepared for fall lawn care with the colder months ahead. Our list of fall lawn maintenance tips will help your lawn prepare for winter so that it comes back full and thriving in the spring.
1. Reduce Mowing for Deeper Roots YouTube video link: https://youtu. be/34ZOu6k7w00 It’s recommended that you mow your lawn a lot less during the fall months. This is an important tip for fall grass care in warm season lawns like zoysia, bermuda grass, St. Augustine and centipede grass.
Keeping your warm season lawn slightly higher will encourage deeper root growth during the fall so that the grass will survive through winter dormancy.
Finer-Bladed Zoysia Mowing Height for the Fall Season: Slightly Higher Than 0.5–1.5 inches Wider-Bladed Zoysias Mowing Height for the Fall Season: Slightly Higher Than 1–2 inches St. Augustine Mowing Height for the Fall Season: Slightly Higher Than 2–4 inches Bermuda Grass Mowing Height for the Fall Season: Slightly Higher Than 0.5– 1.5 inches Centipede Grass Mowing Height for the Fall Season: Slightly Higher Than 1.5– 2 inches Fescue Mowing Height for the Fall Season: Slightly Higher Than 2.5–3.5 inches Bluegrass Mowing Height for the Fall Season: Slightly Higher Than 2.5–3.5 inches 2. Water Less as Temperatures Drop Reduce watering in fall as temperatures change. Overwatering can cause disease, especially when combined with shade from falling leaves. Water to prevent drought stress while warm season grasses enter dormancy, requiring 1 inch of water per week. Cool season grasses need 1–1.25 inches. Water in the early morning to minimize disease risk.
3. Fertilize Your Lawn with the Right Nutrients See Attached Youtube Video: https:// youtu.be/RflhLbZvefs Choose the right fall fertilizer for your grass type. Consider the Lawnifi Fall Fertilizer Box, a box made up of three liquid fertilizer bottles. Apply Boost in early fall for green-up, Maintain in mid-fall for balanced nutrition and Recover in late fall for environmental stress preparation before the coldest time of the year. Each bottle covers 5,000 sq. ft. and easily attaches to the end of a garden hose.
4. Control Weeds with a Pre- or Post-Emergent Herbicide Apply pre- and post-emergent herbicides for fall weed control. Pre-emergent prevents fall and winter weeds, while post-emergent tackles existing ones. Address hard-to-control weeds like Poa annua, sedge, crabgrass, goosegrass, chickweed and henbit. Fall is ideal for pre-emergent application, also suitable in spring.
See Attached Youtube Video: https:// youtu.be/xC38hBG_5iw 5. Keep an Eye Out for Insect Invasions Watch for grub worms and chinch bugs in warm and cool season lawns. Other pests like sod webworms, fall armyworms and mole crickets may appear. Use broad-spectrum insecticides for treatment based on the specific pest. Address the issues promptly to prevent damage.
6. Prevent Disease Outbreaks as Temperatures Change Apply systemic fungicide preventatively in early fall to keep disease outbreaks under control. Address past issues with multiple fungicide applications in affected areas. Focus on spring dead spot prevention, applying fungicide at high rates. Water after using granular disease control products. Remove dead leaves to prevent shade-induced damage.
Tip: Remove any dead leaves. Rake dead leaves weekly to avoid shade and moisture accumulation. Adapt your fall lawn care routine for changing seasons, temperatures and soil conditions, ensuring your grass is prepared for the colder months ahead.
Want to learn more about achieving a great lawn? Check out more Sod University tips here and subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
If your publication or website has any future lawn and garden content needs, reach out to us at cecilia@sodsolutions. com. Sod Solutions has helped successfully develop and release to the market over 20 different turfgrass varieties over the past 27 years including Palmetto and CitraBlue St. Augustine, EMPIRE, Citra-Zoy and Innovation Zoysia and Celebration, Latitude 36 and NorthBridge Bermudagrass. The company is based in the Charleston, SC area.
This article was written by Sod Solutions Content Strategist, Valerie Smith. For all media inquiries or for high-resolution photos, contact Cecilia Brown at [email protected].
