Summer days are dwindling and you may have even noticed that some leaves are already beginning to show signs of fall. Before you know it, the trees will be bare, the air will be crisp, and your lawn will be covered in a crunchy sea of yellow, orange and brown leaves. In order to set yourself up for a healthy lawn during the fall season, here are a few steps you’ll need to take now:

1. Keep on mowing. Though the weather is cooling down, your grass will continue to grow. That means you’ll need to stick to your lawn mowing routine until you notice that grass growth has slowed or stopped. Make sure your final cut is short to make keeping your yard clean easier throughout the fall.

2. It’s time to aerate. The hot sun of summer dries out and hardens the soil, but the cool, moist air of fall allows for the ground to loosen, making it the perfect time for aeration. Choosing to aerate in the fall allows the maximum amount of sunlight, oxygen and hydration to be absorbed.

3. Protect with mulch. Adding mulch around your trees and shrubs before the cooler months creates a protective barrier from the harsh elements ahead. For best results, cover the area surrounding your plants leaving approximately two inches from each plant’s’ base to avoid bark and stem rot.

4.Fertilization is best in fall. Although it may seem odd since we’re heading into a cooler season where most plants seldom grow, fall fertilization is extremely important. The object is to stimulate the roots of your grass in order to maintain strength during dormancy in the winter months.

5. Get rid of those weeds. Don’t let weeds benefit from all of your hard work mowing, mulching and fertilizing. Stop them in their tracks with herbicide applications to protect your lawn and hopefully deter weeds from growing back in the spring.

6. Remember to rake! Yes, we do mean raking leaves, but that’s not all. Raking your yard consistently both before, during and after the fall will reduce the chance of thatching, sun-deprived brown patches. It also helps allow for fertilization to be as effective as possible.

If you live in the Massachusetts or New Hampshire area and are looking to hire a lawn care professional to help you prepare your yard for fall, look no further than Turf Unlimited. Our outstanding customer service, knowledgeable technicians and wide variety of lawn care, fertilization, and pest and weed control services are unmatched.

For more information about our services call 888-649-9919 and schedule your free, in-home estimate today.