A neatly trimmed lawn serves as an excellent frame for flower beds, rock gardens and trees. The thick grass cover contrasts with the bright flowers. To keep your lawn in order, you need to periodically fertilize it, fight weeds, water it and mow it. It is important to choose the right moment for the first mowing of the grass and to know when to mow the lawn for the last time before winter, so that it does not freeze and grows well next spring. The result is a harmoniously designed corner of the garden.

Basics of proper lawn care

The timing and frequency of mowing the lawn are determined by its purpose (English, sports and recreation area), grass variety, soil characteristics, lighting, and other growth conditions. The best place is sunny, sheltered from the wind, not too humid, where the snow melts quickly in the spring. With regular feeding, the grass grows well, but it needs to be mowed all the time, otherwise it will turn yellow and not look very aesthetically pleasing.

Timely first mowing of young grass

Seeds are sown in April–May. The first shoots appear ten days after sowing. When they reach 8–10 cm, you can mow the lawn for the first time after planting, cutting off the ends by 2–3 cm. You should not delay mowing: cutting the grass “starts” the tillering process and increases resistance to diseases. Most weeds cannot tolerate low mowing and do not have time to produce seeds.

It is recommended to mow tender young grass by hand: with a scythe, a sickle, or cut with scissors, so as not to pull out tender plants by the roots. The earth is compacted. If the area is large and you can’t do without a mower when you have to cut the lawn for the first time, then the knives should be very sharp. There is nothing to worry about if you have to step on the grass - crushed plants recover well.

The trimmer must be powerful

Perennial lawn care

A perennial lawn needs careful spring cleaning (when the snow melts). The ground is cleared with a rake from last year's vegetation, leaves, and other debris. Uneven areas are covered with compost soil, and trampled areas are additionally seeded. When you are going to mow the lawn for the first time, the grass should be dry and the soil should be moist. The frequency of mowing is affected by the growth rate. Usually a mixture of several types of ornamental grasses is used. Plants must be:

• perennial;
• frost-resistant;
• forming dense turf;
• decorative;
• low-growing (if you want to mow the area less often).

Green carpet - a connecting element for all parts of the garden

Regular mowing and aeration of the soil

Depending on the growth rate and weather conditions, the grass is mowed after 5–14 days until autumn (from May to September). In this case, a height of about 5 cm is left. A small amount of cut grass does not need to be removed, using it as an organic fertilizer. After each mowing, especially on dry days, abundant watering is necessary.

Continuous mowing:

• helps maintain a neat appearance;
• promotes tillering;
• protects against excessive evaporation of moisture;
• inhibits weed growth.

For small or complex areas, an electric trimmer (with a fishing line or knife) is used; for large areas, gasoline wheeled lawn mowers are used. To penetrate water into the soil, soil aeration is carried out. To do this, use a pitchfork to pierce the ground 10–15 cm and lift the turf. After the procedure, the lawn should “rest” for a couple of days. Aeration must be carried out during the period when you need to mow the lawn before winter.

Aeration is carried out in spring or autumn

Preparing your lawn for winter

By the fall, reduce the amount of nitrogen-containing fertilizers so that the plants will slow down by the time the lawn has to be mowed before winter. They water less often, and at the end of September they stop watering completely. The last mowing occurs at the beginning of October (you should mow 1–2 cm higher than in summer). If there is not much mowed grass, then it is left to create a protective layer, evenly distributed throughout the area.

The last time you mow your lawn is often dictated by climate anomalies. Too warm an Indian summer allows the plants to stretch out, and mowing has to be repeated. You can’t not mow at all - the grass will lie down, and in the spring its compacted layer will prevent fresh shoots from breaking through. It is ideal if after mowing the plants still have time to grow a little.

Lawn care is quite simple, but if the area is large and you don’t have time, invite professionals who will make the lawn a decoration of the garden.

Many people who take care of their lawns on their own are interested in the question: how will lawn grass survive the winter under the snow?

To prevent damage to your beautiful lawn during the cold season, you should provide the necessary care and prepare the lawn for frost.

The main work associated with lawn care should take place in the spring.

For example, reseeding grass, removing debris that has accumulated for the winter, decorating the edge of the lawn and many others.

But in order to have less hassle in the spring, you should carry out certain activities in the fall. In this way, the plants will also be protected during the most unpleasant season for them.

Basic lawn care procedures before winter are:

• watering;
• feeding;
• soil aeration;
• mowing grass.

All this work must be carried out in September and October, while there is no frost. Let's look at all lawn care procedures separately.

You may ask, is it even necessary to cut it in the fall? The answer is definitely necessary. This is necessary so that the grass grows better in the spring.

Due to frost, the part of the lawn that is underground withers and lies down. In spring, such grass acts as mulch and does not allow new shoots to emerge.

Many people burn last year's grass in the spring. But the same effect can be achieved if you simply mow the grass in the fall.

The last lawn mowing before winter depends on weather conditions. It happens that in the middle of summer, due to the heat, the grass is still growing very rapidly.

It happens that frosts come very early and the grass can no longer be cut. And you shouldn’t count on the weather forecast being particularly helpful with this either.

Mowing the lawn in the fall is much easier than the same procedure in the summer.

After all, you can leave the cut grass on the beds that have become vacant. In addition, your future vegetables will like this bait.

In fact, there is no point in first taking the grass clippings to the compost bin and then bringing them to the garden beds in the spring.

So you shouldn’t be like people who first throw the cut grass in the trash and then buy peat in the store.

Do not forget that from September the soil cools down greatly after the summer heat, and the grass begins to grow more slowly.

Therefore, you should mow the lawn much less often than in summer. In this case, the height of the lawn mower should be set to a medium level, that is, you cannot mow low.

The grass should be about 5 centimeters high. The frequency of such bevels should be reduced to twice a month.

The fact is that in the fall the grass grows back very slowly and does not recover very well after cutting. Therefore, you need to protect its strength and not deplete it.

Why shouldn't you walk on the grass?

The thing is that it rains a lot in autumn. Therefore, if you walk on a wet lawn, the consequences for it can be catastrophic.

These can be significant dents from shoes that damage the root system.

Therefore, if the lawn is located in front of the house, then you need to make a special path so as not to walk on it.

But what if it is in the garden? You can make a path from old boards that will serve you until spring.

Features of fertilizing and watering the lawn in autumn

Due to the fact that there is a lot of precipitation in autumn, you should reduce the frequency of watering the lawn, and remember the basic rules:

1. In September, such watering should occur half as often as in summer, and by October it should stop altogether. The lawn will have enough moisture from the rains.
2. Soil that is too wet can negatively impact the health of your lawn and weaken it. Thus, it is not susceptible to various diseases.

But it is very necessary to feed the lawn at this time, not forgetting the following recommendations:

1. Full fertilization of the lawn is necessary until mid-September.
2. Next, you should fertilize the lawn in the same mode, but exclude nitrogen fertilizers. The fact is that nitrogen helps grass grow, but this is not necessary before wintering, because tall grass can freeze.
3. From mid-September, the lawn should be fed only with potassium and phosphorus. This bait will strengthen the root system and saturate the soil with useful substances.
4. The best time to feed your lawn is in the evening.
5. The main thing is not to forget to water after you have applied fertilizer. This will help your lawn survive the winter successfully.

In autumn, the appearance of the lawn deteriorates significantly. Bald spots, pits, bumps or felt may be observed.

There is no need to worry too much about holes and bumps. This happens to any lawn during operation.

1. The holes must be filled with fresh soil and made level with the lawn. First you need to sow the same grass seeds in them as you have on your lawn. Next, compact the soil well in these places. A good option is to cut off the turf and cover the hole with it.
2. If you have developed bumps, then this lawn defect is even easier to correct. Simply cut the turf, remove excess soil, and put the turf back in place. After which you should also compact the soil a little.
3. Bald spots can also be easily corrected. To do this, you need to turn the soil a little and select the yellowed grass. After this, sow the grass mixture and cover it with good soil and tamp it down a little. After this, of course, water the lawn.

You can also practice overseeding your lawn from early spring to early autumn.

After the lawn has been mowed once again, you need to take the seeds and manually sow them in those places where some imperfections form.

Then the lawn, of course, needs to be watered and fertilized after a week. Never walk on a lawn that you have just seeded or watered for at least one day.

If you seed your lawn every three weeks, it will not only always look beautiful, but also have strong turf.

Don't forget that after the autumn rains there are a lot of earthworms on the lawn.

They process dead parts of the grass and throw their waste products onto the surface of the lawn. You can remove these products with a very ordinary birch broom.

Of course, the processing of felt by earthworms is very beneficial for the soil. But it's best not to let this happen on your lawn. So it is best to put them in a compost bin.

Clear the lawn of fallen leaves and felt using a special fan rake.

This procedure is required. If it is not carried out, then oxygen and plant roots will not get into the soil and will not be able to feed.

Let's summarize and voice the basic rules for autumn lawn care:

1. Do not step on the lawn when it gets cold or rains. Therefore, it is better to make special paths from boards that should be used from autumn to spring
2. Before the lawn is covered with a decent layer of snow that will protect it, reduce the load on it to a minimum.
3. You should not make a skating rink on your lawn when winter comes.
4. Water the lawn half as often in September, and from October it is better not to water it at all.
5. It is necessary to feed the lawn, but without nitrogen.
6. Monitor the appearance of your lawn and re-seed it as needed.

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Autumn is the time to take stock and prepare all living things for winter. Lawn care in the fall consists of fertilizing, final mowing, aeration, combing, adding soil and leveling the area of ​​the overgrown lawn. The main objectives are to nourish the roots, prevent fungal diseases and maintain air and water permeability of the soil.

In the fall, it is necessary to “repair” the lawn. Grass is sown on empty areas of soil in the same way as it was sown in the spring. Proper lawn care will allow you to enjoy a beautiful area in the spring without putting in too much effort.

The easiest way to have a beautiful front lawn

You've certainly seen the perfect lawn in a movie, on an alley, or perhaps on your neighbor's lawn. Those who have ever tried to grow a green area on their site will no doubt say that this is a huge amount of work. The lawn requires careful planting, care, fertilization, and watering. However, only inexperienced gardeners think this way; professionals have long known about the innovative product - liquid lawn AquaGrazz.

During the spring and summer, any lawn requires feeding. And if in summer mainly nitrogen fertilizers are used, then in September fertilizing should be carried out with potassium fertilizers. Thanks to the high potassium content in plant roots, water freezes without forming crystals that could rupture the cell membranes.

Care in October, for example, with fertilizers with a predominance of potassium and phosphorus. These macroelements help strengthen plant cell tissue and root formation. When choosing a fertilizer, read the composition, the main thing is that it does not contain nitrogen, which promotes growth. In autumn, the plant only needs rest.

Green carpet grows best in slightly acidic soils. It is recommended to check acidity every few years. The use of mineral fertilizers can increase the acidity of the soil. In this case, lawns, including rolled ones, require liming. Up to two hundred grams of lime are consumed per meter.

Soil aeration

Autumn care will be incomplete without aerating the soil. After the summer months, the coating may not look its best. Somewhere the grass was burnt out, somewhere it was trampled, somewhere moss appeared. Moss and a lot of weeds are a clear sign that the care was chosen incorrectly. Autumn is the time to adjust it, improve the density and quality of the coating and make sure that it easily survives the winter.

Watering in the fall is limited, as excess water can compact the soil or damage plant roots. In these cases, soil aeration is necessary. Particular attention should be paid to those places where water stagnates. Aeration is the process of piercing the soil to a depth sufficient to allow oxygen to penetrate to the roots. It is known that a dense top layer does not allow plants to develop normally. The voids created by piercing are filled with air, which is necessary for the decomposition of organic matter and the oxidation of minerals in the soil.

Soil aeration

It’s easy to check whether soil aeration is necessary - just remove a piece of turf about fifteen centimeters deep. If the root system of lawn grass goes to a depth of about five centimeters, then this area needs to be treated.

In areas where all the water from autumn rains remains in the upper layers of the soil, aeration is sometimes not enough. Then they resort to surface drainage, point or linear. It is best to combine linear drainage throughout the entire area with point drainage in particularly wet areas.

Lawn mowing

Should you mow your grass in the fall? It is necessary, this is mandatory care. The regrown plants, after they are covered with snow, form a dense carpet of grass, which in the spring will not allow new shoots to break through. Then, instead of admiring the green flooring, you will have to clear the soil and re-seed the plants.

The lawn can be mowed as long as the grass continues to grow. In this case, the height of the plants should be a centimeter or two more than you usually cut them; the optimal height is six to nine centimeters. At a height below six centimeters, there is a high risk of freezing in some areas.

The pride of every owner of a personal plot. Admiring these soft, silky carpets of lush grass, it is difficult to imagine how much work and effort goes into their creation. You should carefully care for your lawn all year round, but it is especially important to properly prepare it for winter. Lawns that are properly prepared for frost will greet you with beautiful greenery in the spring, while neglected lawns in the new season will look like a patch of land with bald spots and an abundance of weeds.

Should I mow my lawn before winter?

Gardeners recommend mowing the lawn before winter. With the onset of frost, tall grass withers and in the spring prevents the emergence of new shoots. The last time to mow the lawn is in early October or before the first frost. It all depends on the region where you live. The height of the lawn left for the winter should not exceed six centimeters. Grass clippings should be removed from the lawn. Some gardeners advise scattering it around the garden - over the winter the grass will rot and become a good fertilizer for the beds.

Should you feed your lawn before winter?

September is the best time to fertilize your lawn. Experts recommend using mineral products rich in potassium and phosphorus, which promote the growth of strong roots. After applying fertilizer, the lawn should be watered well - water will help the granules dissolve and not burn the grass.

When should you stop watering your lawn?

Autumn is the time of heavy rains, so the grass does not need frequent watering. During dry weather, water the lawn once a week without leaving puddles. To do this, use the sprinkling method - spraying water over the surface of the lawn in the form of rain. This method of watering is as close as possible to natural precipitation, therefore it has a good effect on the grass and does not destroy the soil structure. Watering should be stopped completely in October. Excessive watering can lead to diseases.

Why aerate your lawn?

During the time when the lawn pleases us with lush green grass, areas of compacted soil form in its turf, which do not allow air to pass through and increase the accumulation of carbon dioxide. If normal air exchange is not established, bald spots will appear on the lawn, and the grass will turn yellow and dry out quickly. In this regard, experts recommend regularly aerating the soil, which will reduce the density of the earth and improve the flow of air and nutrients to the roots of plants. In addition, aeration will accelerate the penetration of water into the deep layers of the earth, so that it will not freeze on the surface of the soil. The procedure should be carried out in September in dry weather using traditional sharp pitchforks. The ground needs to be pierced 10 centimeters deep. If your lawn occupies hundreds of acres of land, then you can use a special tool - a verticulator, or “aeration sandals” equipped with hollow knives on the soles. After a couple of days, when the soil dries, it needs to be leveled with a rake.

Never aerate on hot days as this will ruin your green grass lawns. The ideal solution would be cloudy, cool weather. Thanks to aeration, the grass will stop withering and drying out. The grass's resistance to various diseases will increase, and its appearance will improve significantly.

Why mulch your lawn?

Lawn mulching is the act of sprinkling lawns with a special mixture that protects the grass from frost, drying out, excessive moisture and other harmful factors. Experts call September and October the most suitable time for mulching. The mixture includes sand, peat and fertile soil. Thanks to this procedure, you can increase the useful turf layer, which promotes the active growth of plants and increase the fertility of the land. As a result, the grass quickly grows and renews itself without losing its color saturation.

Lawn care doesn't end with the arrival of winter. Even during the colder months, lawns need to be treated with extra care. Even if the lawn is completely covered with snow, try not to walk on the grass. Also, you cannot build a skating rink on it and clutter it with snowdrifts. By providing your lawn with comprehensive, regular care, you can admire its perfect beauty all year round.