Lawn Care In Autumn

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

The emerald velvet of a manicured lawn adorns the man-made landscape. People who are far from agricultural concerns cannot imagine what efforts this beauty requires. The density of the grass, the density of the turf, weeds, diseases, watering, constant cutting - all this requires strength, skills and knowledge. With the onset of autumn, there is always anxiety about how the lawn grass will overwinter and in what form it will appear in the spring

In order for the frost not to nullify the fruits of your labor, you need to ensure proper care of the lawn in the fall and competently prepare it for winter. Moreover, these works will partially reduce the spring troubles, when there are already enough things to do without it. We prepare the lawn for winter in September - October. Main tasks: aeration of the soil; timely mowing; watering; top dressing.

Lawn mowing

The mowing schedule should be drawn up taking into account the weather forecast and have time to make the last mowing before the regular negative night temperatures. This process should take place 10-15 days before frost. The height of the last haircut does not need to be lowered below 5 cm, so that before the cold weather the grass has time to give an increase of 2-3 cm and reach 7-8 cm, this is the kind that will be optimal for wintering.

It is useful to know that short-cut grass provokes freezing of the root system - in the spring there will be "bald spots". Overgrown - prone to lodging, contributes to the accumulation of moisture, which causes rotting of sod layers and partial death. Remnants of dry grass, fallen leaves are subject to mandatory collection and removal, otherwise their decomposition and "burning out" of the green mass will begin. It also forms a favorable environment for the development of bacteria and infections that lead to root damage, suppression of growth, yellowing. If trimming is done with a trimmer, it is recommended to collect the cut grass with a fan rake. This device not only helps to collect waste, but also lifts the green mass, promotes the flow of air to the soil.

Top dressing of the lawn

During the summer, strength and nutrients are lost, frequent mowing depletes the roots, so in the fall it is necessary to improve the lawn by applying fertilizers. Requires phosphorus and potassium. These substances are included in complex fertilizers created specifically for the lawn and are issued with the mark "autumn". In the absence of a finished form, you can use superphosphate in granules and potassium sulfate (2: 1). The dosage is calculated as follows: 3 kg of the mixture per 100 sq. m. It is better to exclude nitrogenous substances, since they activate growth, and before winter the grass should leave stronger and in a calm state.

Top dressing is carried out by spraying dry powder onto a wet surface, it is advisable to equate the event with the beginning of seasonal rains. In stable dry weather, water twice (before and after application), otherwise you can cause burns. Mulching with a mixture of peat, sand and dry compost gives a good effect. This technique allows you to strengthen the root system and smooth out minor defects. Experts say lawns over five years old require a deoxidizer. Therefore, during the introduction of the mineral complex, it is useful to simultaneously add limestone flour and ash.

Lawn aeration

This procedure helps the roots to "breathe", ensures the flow of nutrients and moisture into deeper layers. In spring, it accelerates the descent of melt water, prevents the formation of ice, which is detrimental to the lawn.

Aeration is especially important on heavy and clayey soils. Sandy soil is drained independently and does not need additional mechanical action. The work is carried out in dry weather, it does not cause difficulties, it is enough to go around the lawn, making punctures in the turf. The recommended application interval is 30-40 cm, depth 15-20 cm. There is an "Aerator" on sale - a special device for such an event, with a given depth and frequency of notches. In the absence of this, you can use conventional pitchforks.

Watering the lawn

Abundant autumn dew and frequent rains moisturize the soil well. However, in dry weather in September, watering is required. The procedure is carried out by sprinkling at intervals of 5-7 days. It is not recommended to water it abundantly before the formation of puddles. It is enough to moisten the ground by 2-3 cm. In October, the nights become cold and damp, in order to avoid waterlogging and provoking the development of infections and rot, watering completely stops.