Summer may be over, but that doesn’t mean homeowners can stop performing sod maintenance. To ensure the lawn is prepared to survive the winter and still look beautiful next year, there are a few steps you can take during the fall to set yourself up for success despite the upcoming cold.

5 Sod Care Tips for Autumn 

1. Lower the Lawn Mower Blade

Grass continues to grow until the first frost arrives, so keep the lawn mower handy well into the fall. Regular mowing ensures the grass continues to grow in a healthy manner, but you can set it up for the winter by slowly starting to cut it shorter. Before the first frost, the sod should be between 1 and 1.5 inches tall.

2. Weed Control

As the winter months approach, weeds, like dandelions and clover, pull nutrients from the grass. This is the perfect time to spread some herbicide. As these weeds prepare for winter, they’ll draw the poison into their roots as well, helping to kill them off before spring arrives.

3. Clear Out Fallen Leaves

Falling leaves may be a staple of the season, but they can also spell trouble for sod grass. While some leaves supply a lawn with extra nutrients, too many can suffocate the grass and trap in moisture. If they are left for too long, bald patches will start to appear in the lawn, so make sure to clear them off regularly.

4. Fall Fertilizing

Many sod lawns lose nutrients over the course of the summer, so you want to replenish these before winter arrives. Adding fertilizer in the early fall stimulates the growth of new root systems over the winter and leads to a lush lawn come spring.

5. Aeration

To maximize the effectiveness of the fertilizer, you should aerate the lawn. This allows the nutrients to more effectively reach the root system and promote healthy growth. It also helps water and air penetrate the outer layer and keeps the lawn healthier for longer.

 

For more help maintaining your sod this fall, contact the experts at Arkansas Sod & Turf Farm in North Little Rock, AR. For almost 40 years, this family-owned and -operated sod company has helped local residents maintain a healthy lawn year-round. Learn more about how they can help by calling (501) 753-5377 or by visiting them online.