Get Your Lawn Ready For Fall With This Handy Checklist

We are beginning to feel the fingers of fall start to grip us every morning we wake up. The air is chilly and the leaves are getting the first tinges of fall. The growing season is coming to an end and if you have a garden it’s time to reap your rewards. You have put a lot of hard work into your yard this year so don’t slow down now because it’s fall. There is still plenty of work to be done to get your yard prepared for fall. The key to a healthy lawn in the spring is putting in the hard work now. That’s why we have put together a list of chores you can do right now to get your yard ready for fall.

Get A Head Start On Weeds

Here in Mississippi and Louisiana, as warm-season grasses go dormant for the year, weeds are hard at work making sure they too survive the winter. They do this by blooming one more time before winter in order to sew their seeds across your lawn. This new generation of weeds will be dormant in your grass until spring arrives and they germinate. You can break the cycle by nipping weeds in the bud this fall. All you need to do is walk around your yard and spot treat for stray weeds with a post-emergent weed killer. In order to make sure you win the war on weeds it’s vital that you eliminate weeds before they go to seed, so don’t hesitate.

Get All The Leaves Off Your Grass

We have some of the most beautiful trees in Louisiana and Mississippi and the leaves are great to look at — when they are still attached to the tree. After leaves fall on our lawns the novelty is over. Raking leaves can be an arduous task depending on how many trees you have in your yard. But no matter what, you need to get those leaves off your grass immediately. Leaves smother grass, blocking out sunlight, air, and trapping moisture. This creates the perfect conditions for lawn diseases such as snow mold. Un raked leaves can also be an attractive overwintering spot for insects and rodents. 

Inspect And Clean Your Gutters

Gutters are an essential, yet overlooked part of your home’s design. When working properly, gutters and downspouts divert water away from your house’s foundation. Without gutters, water would drip off your roof and erode the dirt away from the foundation. This can lead to cracks and basement leaks, not to mention, costly foundation repairs. Clogged gutters can create a backup of water that puts stress on your roof. If you live in a place where temperatures get below freezing then it could get worse. Heavy ice will rip gutters right off of your roofline, causing damage to the trim and fascia board. Clogged gutters can also attract unwanted pests that will make their home in the debris clogging your gutters. Insects like mosquitoes and gnats are attracted to standing water.

Fertilize Your Lawn

The stress of summer can leave your lawn drained of nutrients. That’s why we highly recommend getting your soil tested at least once a year. When your soil pH is out of balance it can have a negative effect on the way your plants grow. A soil test can tell you important information such as if your soil is too acidic or alkaline, whether your soil is getting enough sunlight, and if your soil is getting enough water. When you do a soil test you will discover that your soil is not all the same. The soil in your front yard might be different from the soil in your backyard, or the soil under a tree may have different nutrients than soil that receives direct sunlight. A soil test can tell you what plants to buy and where to plant them in your yard. 

For Help In Louisiana and Mississippi Call The Lawn Care Experts At TruGreen Midsouth

At TruGreen, we can help you answer any of your lawn care questions and concerns. Call today and let’s get you signed up for next year’s lawn care program.

Call us at 225-465-0665 if you are a Louisiana client, but if you’re from Mississippi, call us at 662-330-1330. Or get a free and easy quote here. Get access to all our tips on pest control, lawn care, tree care, and more by following our monthly blog. Check us out on Facebook for the latest TruGreen deals and news in your area.