Set your lawn up for success with YardScaping!
As we move into fall, there are some steps you can take to help your lawn become stronger through the fall and winter months and be ready for a successful spring! A healthier lawn will save you time and money, look better, and help keep pollutants (such as fertilizers and pesticides) out of our water! Here are some steps you can take to build a better lawn:
Get a soil test! Soil testing kits are available at the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District office, the Scarborough NRCS office, Falmouth Cooperative Extension office, and many local retailers who sell lawn care products. Tips on how to collect soil samples are located here. CCSWCD staff are available to answer any questions you may have regarding sample collection or interpreting your results! These results can be used to help determine which nutrients your lawn is lacking in, so you can use a bag of fertilizer containing the correct nutrients you need.
Aerate your lawn. Aerating helps to allow more nutrients, air, water, and helpful microorganisms to access the soil. Doing this step in the fall will help make your grass roots stronger for the winter. Power aerators can be rented from local nurseries and hardware stores.
Topdress. Adding a layer of compost to your lawn in the fall helps to give it a layer of insulation to get through the winter. It will also provide your grass with a burst of nutrients in the fall when it is focusing on storing nutrients in its roots. When spring comes, your lawn will be able to use the energy it has stored to start growing strong green grass.
Overseed. Rejuvenate your lawn by adding new grass seeds to your lawn. Choose a shady seed mix with a 60-70% fescues and 30-40% perennial ryegrasses. By adding new grass in the fall, you will be filling in any gaps where early spring weeds may begin to grow.
Mow better. Setting your mower blades to 3″ will help your grass grow deep strong roots which are important in the fall when nutrients are being stored for winter. Leave the grass clippings behind to compost in place and return nutrients to the soil (free fertilizer!). On your last mow of the fall, cut your lawn to 2″ high to reduce snow mold during the winter.
Consider planting native plants. Native plants help not only beautify your property, but provide stabilization and resilience to your lawn. A soil test can help you identify which plants will grow best in your soil, and a beginner list of plants native to our region can be found here.
Following these simple steps can help to give your grass strong roots as it prepares for winter and lush green grass early in the spring while making your lawn safer for kids, pets, and the environment.
To learn more, and to find out about upcoming healthy lawn care workshops, head to the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District’s YardScaping page!