Planning for an Outdoor Wedding

Placing pumpkins and mums by your front door and stocking up on Halloween candy may be priorities in the fall, but preparing your lawn for the harsh winter temperatures is also important. Fescue grass does require some maintenance during this season that you should plan in advance for. Here are a few tips to follow this fall to ensure your fescue lawn is healthy and appealing for many years to come.

Prep

Aerating before applying seed is one of the most important ways to strengthen your fescue lawn, and these tasks should be completed in the fall.

A few days before aerating the lawn, make sure to mow the grass. The grass blades should be short, which will help the aerator penetrate the soil instead of struggling to move through thick grass.

Dead grass and patches of pine straw or weeds can spread across your fescue lawn quickly. Known as thatch, this buildup can prevent new growth of grass, which negatively affects the look of your lawn. Use a rake to remove any thatch on the lawn, as well.

Watering your lawn each of the days before aerating is also smart. This will soften the soil to improve the effectiveness of the aeration. Avoid overwatering, which can flood the lawn, but apply enough water so you are able to use your finger to push through the soil.

Aerate

The aerator should make a few passes over your lawn. This will prevent inconsistent growth of grass after aerating and seeding.

Work the aerator over large bare spots multiple times. The more plugs you pull out of the ground, the better chances of new grass growth will be.

Fertilize

After aerating, use a spreader to apply fertilizer to the lawn.

Experts recommend applying a 3-1-2 fertilizer in the fall season after aerating. This fertilizer contains a ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Combined together, these elements strengthen the roots of the grass while nourishing surrounding soil to stimulate lush, green, healthy, and attractive growth.

Reseed

Once your lawn is aerated and fertilized, you can apply new fescue grass seed. Again, use a spreader to help apply the seed evenly and thoroughly across your lawn.

Overseeding in the fall will help fill in any bare spots on your lawn, but it will also thicken existing grass.

Water

Knowing how much to water your lawn after fertilizing and overseeding will depend on a few factors including temperatures, sun exposure, and your local climate. However, you will need to water your lawn after fertilizing and overseeding to promote new growth.

Over watering will cause seed to wash away, but insufficient watering will not allow the new seed to implement into the soil.

Do not use your irrigation system or garden hose to water your lawn if it is raining or has recently rained. In sunny, dry conditions, apply water to your lawn in the morning every other day after seeding for the best results.

Your fescue lawn can look attractive and lush for many years to come, but maintenance in the fall is necessary. With these tips, you will be able to aerate, fertilize, and seed your fescue lawn during the fall season. For more information, contact a business such as Pattie Group, Inc.