Today’s Homeowner Radio Show | September 25, 2021

2. Aerate the Soil

Fall is also an ideal time to aerate your lawn so that oxygen, water and fertilizer can easily reach the grassroots. You can rent a gas-powered, walk-behind lawn aerator for about $70 per day. The self-propelled machine will quickly punch holes into the soil and extract plugs of dirt. If you’ve got a very large yard, say, more than three or four acres, and don’t feel like aerating it yourself, hire a landscaping contractor.

3. Rake Up the Leaves

I know that raking leaves no one’s idea of fun, but it’s important to remove fallen leaves from your lawn as soon as possible. Don’t wait until all the leaves have fallen from the trees to start raking. If you do, the leaves will become wet from rain and morning dew, stick together and form an impenetrable mat, which will eventually suffocate the grass and breed fungal diseases.

An alternative to raking leaves is to use a lawnmower fitted with a collection bag or vacuum system. These methods are particularly effective if you have a very large yard with many deciduous trees. Regardless of whether you use a rake or a lawnmower, just be sure to remove the leaves before they turn into a soggy, suffocating mess.

4. Fertilize for Future Growth

Most lawn experts agree, if you fertilize your lawn only once a year, do it in the fall. The reason? Grass leaves grow much more slowly as the weather turns cool, but the grassroots and rhizomes continue to grow strong. (Rhizomes are the horizontal plant stems that lie just beneath the soil’s surface; they produce the blades of grass above and the roots below.) A fall application of fertilizer delivers essential nutrients for the grass to grow deep roots now and to keep on reserve for a healthy start next spring.

Wait until mid-to late-fall, then apply dry lawn fertilizer to all grassy areas; be careful not to miss any spots. You could use a crank-style broadcast spreader, but for optimum coverage, consider using a walk-behind drop spreader. It takes a little longer, especially on hilly yards, but a drop spreader provides the best way to apply an even, consistent amount of fertilizer.

5. Fill in Bare Spots

Autumn is also a great time of year to fix any bare spots on your lawn. And the quickest, easiest way to do that is with an all-in-one lawn repair mixture. Sold at most garden shops and home centers, this ready-to-use mixture contains grass seed, special quick-starter lawn fertilizer and organic mulch.

Use a garden rake to scratch loose the soil at the bare spot in your lawn, then spread a thick layer of the lawn repair mixture over the area. Lightly compact the mixture, then water thoroughly, and continue to water every other day for two weeks.

6. Weed Control

If broadleaf weeds such as dandelions have taken over your lawn now’s the time to fight back. Weeds, like most plants, are in the energy-absorbing mode during the fall. They’re drinking in everything that comes their way, including weed killers. Apply an herbicide now and the weeds won’t return in the spring. 

Read the package label before use, but most herbicide manufacturers recommend applying the weed killer during early- to mid-autumn when daytime temperatures are consistently above 60°F.