Now that September has arrived, you’re probably performing a variety of tasks to get ready for fall, such as bringing warmer clothes back into your wardrobe and preparing to put your grill away for a while. Don’t forget to add performing some general lawn care and maintenance to your list as fall approaches. Here are some key tips to consider:
- Continue your existing watering and mowing tasks: Keep a close eye on your lawn throughout the fall, and be sure to keep it watered and mowed as needed. When fall is winding down, you can switch your lawnmower’s blade to the lowest setting for your final two mowing sessions of the season. Doing so will bring more sunlight to the grass, which will in turn experience less browning during the winter months.
- Rake excess leaves: Quickly remove leaves that fall onto your lawn. If left un-raked, large piles of leaves will become wet from rain and dew, ultimately clumping together to form difficult-to-manage piles that may prevent the grass from breathing, which could lead to fungal diseases.
- Take control of your weeds: Apply an herbicidal product to ensure that any weeds won’t come back in the spring. Read the herbicide package carefully to learn the best time and temperature for performing this task.
- Apply a fertilizer: In middle-to-late fall, apply a dry lawn fertilizer to your grass. Follow any instructions that come with the fertilizer. Be sure to water your lawn well just after placing the fertilizer, and then water every other day for the next two weeks.
- Perform a lawn aeration process: Fall is a great time to aerate your lawn’s soil. You can rent an aerator that will create holes in the soil and pull out excess dirt.
In addition to general lawn care, don’t forget about your sprinkler system. As cooler weather approaches, it’s important to ensure your system doesn’t freeze. You can prevent this by following some basic steps:
- Have your sprinkler system winterized: The sprinkler contractors in Burlington County, NJ that you hire to winterize your sprinkler system will turn off the water, drain any backflow and use specific equipment that will help ensure that all of the lines in your system are clear.
- Prep your sprinkler system for aeration: Part of your preparation for aerating your lawn (discussed above) should include taking note of the location of your sprinkler heads to help minimize harm from aerator spikes. To do this, purchase marking flags, start your system manually and place the flags beside each sprinkler head.
As part of your efforts, be sure that any issues with your sprinkler system are resolved this fall before the cold weather hits and warmer weather inspires you to want to use your lawn more frequently.
As you complete these tasks, if you’d like to book an appointment for an estimate or services from sprinkler contractors in Burlington County, NJ, the team of experts at Star Sprinkler Systems Inc. is here to provide you with high-quality customer service. For any questions about your sprinkler system or to have one installed, contact our team today!