Fall Lawn Care

Keep your lawn healthy and looking its best with proper fall lawn care.

Keep mowing as long as the grass is growing. Mow high to encourage deep drought tolerant and pest resistant roots. Grow cool season grasses like bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches tall. Warm season grasses like bermudagrass, carpetgrass, centipedegrass and zoysia should be grown at 1 to 2 inches tall, while St Augustine should be a bit higher, about 2 to 3 inches, for best results. Taller grass is also better able to compete with weeds.

Mow often, removing no more than one third the total height, to reduce stress on grass. Leave clippings on the lawn. A season’s worth of clippings equals one fertilizer application.

And no need to make the last cut of the season shorter. It won’t hurt the lawn, but it is not necessary.

A bit more information: And make sure the blade is sharp for a better look and quicker recovery of the grass. Gardeners growing cool season grasses like bluegrass and fescue can improve their lawns health and vigor with fall fertilizations. Those growing warm season grasses need to make their last fall fertilization at least 4 to 6 weeks prior to the first fall frost.