Springtime Preparations For Lawn Care In the Fall

There are three lawn care tasks that can be done in the springtime but are actually best done in the fall. These three tasks are core aeration, overseeding, and fertilization. We can do core aeration on our lawns in the spring when we find that the soil has become compacted and growth of the grass is declining. We can do overseeding when we see our lawn filled with lots of bare patches. Fertilization can also be done in springtime, but is recommended to be done in the fall.

Granted, core aeration and overseeding are reasonable tasks to do in the springtime, especially when the situation demands that you do so. Your lawn may really be in a dire state, with bare patches and unhealthy compacted soil, that aerating and overseeding would be the only solutions to the problem. And there would be nothing wrong with applying these tasks in the springtime. But that is only if you did not apply herbicides during the spring, too.

Herbicides are applied when to get rid of the weeds growing, or in the process of sprouting, on your lawn. They are sometimes applied in the spring. When you apply herbicides, take note that you will not be able to do aeration and overseeding. This is because herbicides stop seed germination, including grass seeds. This automatically implies that overseeding cannot be done. Aerating you soil will also be a hindrance to the herbicides' purpose. Aerating will mean breaking down the herbicide shield, and the herbicides would not be able to prevent weeds form growing as a result.

Fertilization will not do anything damaging to the herbicides or other tasks when done in the spring. But it still recommended that fertilizing be done during the fall, when core aeration is also preferrably done. Fertilization works better when the soil is aerated, and it is more effective. Since core aeration will be done in the fall, so will fertilization have to be done in the fall, too.

This does not mean that you will completely ignore these tasks during the spring, of course. You can make preparatory steps in the spring to ensure that you will not have a hard time doing these in the fall.

For core aeration, for example, you may just go over your lawn and see if aeration is really needed in the fall. Check for soil compaction in the spring, and if there is compaction, then prepare to spend some time in the fall for an aeration. As for fertilization, some experts recommend light feeding of fertilizers during the spring and then a heavier dose in the fall.

Fall is still the best season for the bulk of lawn care tasks. But this does not mean that we will leave the lawn as it is in the springtime. You can always prepare in springtime the tasks you will be doing in the fall. Doing so will lighten your load, even a little, and can help in the growth of a healthy and green lawn.

The article is written and submitted by Anna Poelo. Check on Boise Lawn Care for tips and advice on how to take care of your lawn.