The dog days of summer are here, and many people are thankful to soon be trading in their lawnmowers for leaf blowers. With the colder months ahead of us, our lawn care specialists at Promier Landscapes in Kingsport are sharing a list of tips to help you maintain your lawn even when it isn’t actively growing.
Reduce mowing
Mowing less frequently will help your grass roots grow deeper and stronger during the dormancy period. This will help the grass withstand the cold winter months. The mowing height during fall for both bluegrass and fescue is on the higher end of 2.5-3 inches. Any longer and the grass may become a breeding ground for mold and disease.
Water less
Much unlike summer, when grass needs more hydration, too much water in the fall — coupled with falling leaves and temperatures — can invite and breed disease. That doesn’t mean, however, that the grass doesn’t need water at all. If rain isn’t naturally watering your lawn, a light occasional watering — around an inch a week —will keep the grass hydrated without causing problems. Our lawn care specialists in Kingsport recommend watering in the early morning hours to stave off possible diseases.
Fertilize
As outdoor temperatures change, so do soil conditions. Cool-season grass like bluegrass and fescue will endure cold temperatures, and the grass roots and rhizomes continue to grow through the fall. A fall application of fertilizer will deliver essential nutrients for root growth and store nutrients for a healthy start next spring.
Overseed
Fall is the perfect time to overseed fescue and bluegrass lawns because the ideal temperature for cool-season grass is 60-85 degrees.
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when not over-seeding
Weeds don’t just happen in summer. They’re forming right now in your lawn and will pop up just in time to annoy you next spring! Apply pre-emergent herbicide now to fight next spring’s weeds. Warning: Don’t use a pre-emergent herbicide if you’re overseeing your lawn because the herbicide will kill the grass alongside the weeds.
Prepare now for a beautiful spring lawn
When temperatures start to cool, many people’s minds shift toward the holidays and colder months. But this is the ideal time to start preparing your lawn for next year’s lush growing season. Our landscaping professionals at Promier Landscapes have helped people like you in the Tri-cities area for two decades create and maintain beautiful, lush, weed-free lawns and landscaping. For more information, call (423) 872-2988, or fill out the form on the website to reach us online.