Although it’s hard to believe with temperatures hitting the upper nineties on a daily basis, fall really is rapidly approaching. That means it’s time to start scheduling the critical fall turf tasks that help keep your lawn area healthy throughout the winter and help jump start spring growth.
As soon as temperatures begin to drop in the fall, cool season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass begin increasing root mass so that they can store carbohydrates and build up energy reserves for the winter. A few simple cultural practices this fall can give your turf the boost it needs before the winter chill sets in.
AERATION
To aerate a lawn means to literally punch through the surface of the soil, leaving a pattern of small holes or slits through the thatch and soil. Aeration can be accomplished by hand, using a pitchfork or a spade, with a liquid solution or, more efficiently, with a specialized aerator. Aeration contributes to healthy turf in several ways.
Aerating your lawn in the fall months:
- helps both the grass and the soil beneath breathe by breaking up compacted surfaces. Compacted soil is deadly. It prevents the turf’s root system from accessing vital elements like oxygen, water and nutrients.
- manages thatch build-up. A thick layer of dead thatch is damaging to a lawn. It limits the amount of moisture and nutrients that reach the soil surface and it becomes a home for insects and diseases. Removing excess thatch actually stimulates thatch decomposing microbial activity.
- allows nutrients, along with water and oxygen, to penetrate the soil and to become accessible to the root system.
- improves water management. Turf that is too dense or soil that is tightly compacted may have problems with water puddling or runoff. Opening the turf by arerating it can help these issues.
- complements overseeding by creating the perfect environment for protected seedling growth throughout the fall.
VERTICUTTING
To verticut a lawn means to remove the top layer of the grass, where the thatch accumulates. A verticutter is a specialized landscaping tool that features a series of vertical blades designed to effectively remove the top layer of excessive thatch and unwanted lateral stolen growth, lifting it to the surface and leaving the healthy blades to grow. While half an inch of thatch is beneficial for building nutritious soil, much more than that can become harmful, blocking water and nutrients from getting into the soil below.
Verticutting turf:
- improves and maintains soil health by allowing nutrients to easily reach soil.
- enhances drainage since water can more easily sock into the soil.
- encourages new growth by cutting through the underground rhizomes and above ground stolons.
- discourages weeds by damaging their root systems and removing their lateral growth.
- prepares the soil for overseeding by opening up access to the soil.
OVERSEEDING
To overseed a lawn simply means to add more grass seed to the existing space without doing extensive soil preparation.depending on your climate, overseeding is typically best done in the early fall months so that the new grass has an opportunity to become established before winter conditions arrive. As with other fall tasks, overseeding has long-term benefits.
Overseeding:
- increases lawn density. Adding new grass seed into existing lawns results in a thicker, healthier lawn with more resilience to everyday use. A dense lawn also provides better erosion control, which is especially important on hillsides and slopes.
- helps control weeds. A lush lawn naturally crowds out unwanted weeds that compete for sunlight, water and nutrients.
- protects against diseases and insects, especially if you incorporate newer grass varieties. A diverse genetic make-up reduces the overall susceptibility to a species specific disease or insect.
- revitalizes the appearance of the turf and enhances the curb appeal of the property.
- gives environmental benefits. A lush, healthy lawn helps to protect our water supplies by filtering pollutants, reducing runoff and sequestering carbon dioxide.
