Maintaining a healthy lawn throughout the summer can be tough in Kansas City where summer temperatures regularly soar well into the 90s and 100s. Insufficient hydration, hot weather, poor soil quality, and irregular fertilization often leave lawns with thin grass and even dead, bare patches by fall.
The good news is there’s still time for lawns to bounce back before winter arrives. In fact, fall is the ideal season to get ahead of the green lawn game. Professional aerating, dethatching, and overseeding can kickstart a lawn’s recovery, prepare it for winter, and give it the best chance for success come spring!
Aeration
During professional lawn aeration, small plugs are pulled from the soil creating a passage for air, water, and nutrients to more effectively reach grass root systems – also slowing rainwater runoff and flooding.
Summer’s extreme heat, dry weather, and increased foot traffic can make a lawn’s soil hard and compacted. These conditions make it difficult for air, water, and nutrients to reach root systems – conditions that essentially starve your lawn. When not addressed, compacted soil leads to thin, patchy grass, and overall poor lawn health.
Aeration – a process that creates small holes throughout the lawn – loosens compacted soil. This allows air, water, and nutrients to penetrate below the surface, so turf can absorb nourishment more effectively. Aeration also gives grass the space it needs to expand and strengthen its root system so it can withstand extreme temperatures and grow thicker. And an aerated lawn is less prone to rainwater runoff and even flooding as water is now better absorbed below the surface.
Dethatching must be done carefully, as grass may be thinned too much – becoming patchy and weak.
Dethatching
Thatch is the layer of dead grass, roots, and other organic debris that covers the soil surface just below the grass. A small amount of thatch actually benefits a lawn as it provides a measure of insulation from the sun and aids in moisture retention. However, excessive thatch can lead to several issues.
Similarly to a compacted lawn, heavy thatch blocks much-needed nutrients and water from reaching root systems. Aeration helps break up thatch, but over time an excess amount of thatch can build up. Professional machine dethatching overcomes this condition. Fall is the ideal time to tackle dethatching because the process can damage new-growth grass in the spring or cause more stress on a lawn that is struggling through the sizzling summer heat.
Overseeding
Bare spots should be overseeded and watered regularly to aid in grass germination during fall lawn renovation.
One of the most important elements of a fall lawn refresh is overseeding. After aeration has loosened the soil and dethatching has removed excess organic material, the conditions are ideal for grass seed to establish itself. Overseeding can effectively repair any thin or patchy areas that have developed over the summer months.
Fall’s cooler air temperatures, combined with still warm soil from summer, create the perfect environment for grass seed germination. Adding just the right amount of daily irrigation allows for quick sprouting grass and sturdy root development. Even a spotty lawn, once overseeded, can fill out with new grass – creating a thicker and stronger lawn just in time for winter. And, when spring arrives, a fuller, greener lawn is the prize!
Herbicide and Fertilizer
Applying herbicide and fertilizer in fall gives lawns and landscaping a head start on spring. Just like grass, perennial weeds, such as dandelions and clover, are preparing for winter. During the fall they too are absorbing nutrients into their root systems – which makes them especially vulnerable to herbicides applied during this time – allowing them to penetrate weed roots more deeply and work more effectively.
Fall lawn fertilizing encourages deep root growth which leads to healthier turf. Well-developed roots absorb more nutrients and moisture, making grass and plants more resilient to cold and readying them for warmer seasons ahead. With nutrients fully stored during the fall, grass and plants are better able to take full advantage of spring’s first warm days to get growing!
Mulch protects landscape beds, retains moisture, prohibits weed growth, and provides a clean, yet natural, visual appearance.
Protecting Landscape Features
Don’t skip preparing other landscape features – such as trees and shrubs – for winter. One of the most beneficial steps to be taken in the fall is protecting plantings throughout the winter by mulching. Mulch acts as a natural insulator, protecting plants’ roots from winter’s drastic temperature fluctuations and retaining much-needed moisture. Plus, mulch is also great for suppressing weeds in landscaping beds.
Fall is also the best time to prune larger shrubs and trees. Removing dead or diseased limbs will ensure that plantings survive winter in better shape and minimize stress when the growing season arrives. Be advised though, over-pruning and excessive cutting can increase stress on plants and make them more vulnerable to damage during the winter.
Prepare Your Lawn for Winter – and the Best Spring Ever! Call the Outdoor Experts at Heinen Landscape!
Is your lawn ready for fall? The landscape professionals at Heinen are here to help! Proper fall lawn renovation can be a time-consuming task. With over 30 years in the landscape business, the turf pros at Heinen are Kansas City’s experts when it comes to prepping your lawn for winter – ensuring a healthier, better-looking lawn next spring and summer.
Call Debbie at Heinen today at (913) 432-5011 to schedule fall lawn renovation services.
