Get Help from Experts in Landscaping in Wichita, KS
Just because it’s cooler outside and the days are shorter doesn’t mean it’s time to slack off in caring for your lawn. In fact, your yard is just as demanding in the autumn as it is during the warmer months, especially if you want it to come back looking gorgeous, lush, and green in the spring.
Follow these fall lawn care tips from Meadowlark Landscape & Design - and give us a call when you want our landscaping company to tackle all of this for you.
The Great Leaf Debate
You may hear conflicting advice from Wichita landscaping services about those colorful autumn leaves that fall onto your lawn.
Some recommend raking up and removing every leaf from your lawn, because they trap moisture and can cause the grass beneath to decay. Others will recommend mowing them into mulch and letting them lay because they’ll break down and become a great fertilizer and insulator during cold winter months. Some people choose to compost this mulch to use in their vegetable gardens the following planting season.
However, you should never let whole leaves pile up on your lawn because come spring, you’ll find bare patches in your grass.
Don’t Forget to Water
Just because the weather is cooler doesn’t mean your lawn no longer needs hydration. To come back green and lush after dormancy, your lawn needs about an inch of water per week.
If there’s no precipitation - and the temperature is above freezing - you may want to water your lawn throughout the autumn season, at least until the end of October, at which time you’ll need our Wichita, KS landscaping team to perform end-of-year maintenance on your irrigation system.
Aeration is Vital!
Regular aeration prevents thatch from building up - a thick layer of roots, cut grass, and other debris that prevents nutrients from being absorbed in the soil.
An aerator punches small holes in the soil of your lawn so that when you fertilize, it penetrates deeply. We recommend using a core aerator that pulls up plugs of soil for the best results. Aerating at least once every couple of years is a smart move - especially if you’re working to correct a patchy lawn.
Fertilizing Your Lawn
Before winter hits, your lawn needs a slow-release fertilizer with potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. These elements ensure your grass has enough nutrients to grow, tolerate drought, overcome disease, and live through cold temperatures.
Before fertilizing, conduct a soil test to find out what your lawn actually needs. Our Wichita, KS landscaping pros are happy to help with this process.
Overseed When Necessary
A thick carpet of grass will choke out weeds, but there’s a method you must follow to get such results. Grass seed must maintain contact with the soil and be kept moist until they begin to sprout or germinate - and they have to achieve this before it gets too cold.
You may need to overseed existing turf to fill in bare patches, but it’s not something you need to do every year, or with every lawn. And you have to use the right tools to get results without destroying your existing grass in the process. Hiring a professional for landscaping services that include seeding can help you ensure you get the best results.
Don’t Stop Mowing
Grass grows up until the first hard frost, which means it’s not time to lock up your shed or cancel your lawn care service for winter. Keep your grass about three inches tall throughout the fall season, which will help prevent matting and thatching, while protecting the root system.
The shorter the lawn, the shorter the roots, which means your grass won’t be able to access deep moisture when it needs it.
Start Planning Your Hardscaping Projects
As summer ends and you look back on how you used your outdoor spaces, it’s the perfect time to consider how you could upgrade it to get even more out of your lawn and garden next year.
Hardscaping, like walkways, walls, and patios, enhance your outdoor space for family gatherings or just spending time in nature.
In-house landscape designers at Meadowlark can help you create the perfect outdoor zones for relaxing. Start planning in the fall, so we can get to work early in the spring.
Don’t Wait to Schedule Fall Landscaping in Wichita, KS
Sign up for lawn care services and garden maintenance for the fall by calling us at (316) 880-0227, or by sending us a message on our website. Our schedule is filling up fast, so don’t delay.