Tis the season for fall lawn care aeration, seeding, fertilizer and lime. Here’s how we take care of our lawn in the fall so it’s popping up healthy and green in the spring.
When is the best time to aerate?
I like to do my fall lawn care routine in early September so the grass has time to sprout and take root. The real payoff is in the spring time when the grass pops and bare spots fill in.
What is our fall lawn care routine?
I really like to punch a million holes in our tough, clay soils with the aerator.
I then seed. I’m using a Scotts sun/shade mix this year.
I sweeten the nitrogen levels with some awesome Milorganite all purpose fertilizer then tune up the soil with lime.
Finally—water. I”m partial to spike sprinklers. Morning and evening—both if possible—gives the seed a fighting chance.
Where do you get an aerator for fall lawn care?
Not many homeowners have an aerator on hand, and even your tool guy neighbor who seems to have everything probably doesn’t have one, either. In order to get your hands on an aerator, you can either try renting one from a reliable tool rental place or buying one.
Rent one.
When you rent an aerator, you’ll probably need to schedule it advance. So make sure you plan for enough time to tackle the project without wasting a day’s rental fee while it sits in the garage.
If you are renting a machine like I did, I am partial to pro shops. This unit from SunBelt worked like a charm—because they service their tools there!!!!—and the service was top drawer.
Buy one.
If you can’t find an aerator for rent nearby, and your lawn is fairly small, then consider a manual model. The tool neighbor may have one of these or know a buddy who owns one, so you might get lucky with borrowing one.
There are also inexpensive manual aerators available at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, and Amazon. For example, here is a pretty good option. It can also tow heavy supplies around the yard for other gardening and DIY projects.
Now get out there and make it green!!!
What’s your fall lawn care routine?
When is the best time to aerate grass where you live?
What tools, fertilizer, seed, watering strategies do you use? And what hasn’t worked for you?
Got any questions about lawn care or home improvement? Send them to us. We’ll try to help.
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