Fall lawn care tips

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(HOST) It’s almost time to put the lawn mower away, but commentator Charlie Nardozzi says there are still a few things we can do to improve the lawn before the snow flies.

(NARDOZZI) All right, I’ll admit I don’t think much of my lawn. I mostly try to eliminate as much lawn as possible around my house and replace it with trees, shrubs, flowers and vegetables. But even after my best intentions, the lawn still exists. While most people fertilize, water and yearn for the perfect green lush lawn. I’m happy with mowing mine periodically and eating the dandelions that pop up every spring. While I’m not into lawn care, per se, I know many others do crave a healthier looking lawn. So, for you lawn lovers out there, I’m glad you’re listening, because it just so happens now is the best time to spruce up the grass.

Fall is perfect for lawn care. The days are short, so the growth rate slows. The weather tends to be cool and moist which is great for cool season grasses. The first order of business is to aerate the soil. Soils under lawns get compacted from normal wear and tear. Compacted soil means grass roots can’t grow. Poor roots, means a poor stand of grass, which will allow weeds to move in. You can aerate your soil using a rented power aerator or buying a hand aerator. Just by taking out little plugs of earth, you’ll allow water, air and fertilizers to flow to the grass roots more readily and have a healthier turf.

Fall is a great time to reseed bare spots, too. Cool season grasses, such as Kentucky blue grass, tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, love to grow this time of year. To do a quick patch job, rake out the old grass and weeds, add a layer of compost and sprinkle the same variety of seed you have growing in that area. Cover it with a layer of straw and keep it well watered. The grass will have plenty of time to germinate and get established before the winter cold arrives. If you have a partly shaded area, use a grass mix that contains more fescue and ryegrass than blue grass. If you’re growing in full sun, use a mix with more bluegrass.

Fall is also the time of year to fertilize. If you only fertilize your lawn once of year, it should be now. The fertilizer feeds grass roots, yet the days are so short, the grass doesn’t put on a lot of new growth as it would if fertilized in the spring. Slow release organic fertilizers are best because their nutrients are released over time and they help build the soil ecology as well as the grass. Adding a top dressing of a inch thick layer of compost annually helps too. The compost builds the hummus in the soil and any gardener knows that the healthier the soil, the healthier the plants – lawns included.

So spending a little time on the grass this fall means a greener, healthier lawn next spring – but fewer dandelions to eat.

Charlie Nardozzi is an all-around gardening expert with a special fondness for tomatoes and roses.

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