End the Season Strong
Fall Lawn Care Sets the Stage for Spring Success
As the summer heat finally breaks, it can be tempting to ease up on lawn care. After all, the mid-90s days are behind us—surely the lawn doesn’t need as much attention anymore, right? Not quite. How you end the season determines whether you’ll spend next spring recovering from preventable damage or enjoying a healthy, beautiful lawn from day one.
Keep Watering—Even as Temperatures Drop
Cooler weather doesn’t mean your grass stops needing water. In fact, proper hydration heading into dormancy is critical. A lawn that goes into winter stressed from drought is far more vulnerable to disease outbreaks and even dead patches come spring. Consistent watering helps your turf build the energy reserves it needs to green up quickly when the season turns.
Pro Tip: Use the "seasonal adjustment" feature on your irrigation controller to gradually reduce the water amount as temperatures and evaporation rates decrease.
(Related: Irrigation Programming Guide)
Don’t Back Off Mowing Yet
It’s easy to let mowing slide this time of year, but the opposite approach is better. Weekly mowing with sharp blades is essential:
Tall, overgrown grass traps too much moisture, which encourages fungus and thatch buildup.
Dull blades shred grass instead of cutting cleanly, opening the door to disease.
Pro Tip: Lower your mowing height by 1 setting and bag your clippings during the last mow of the season. This lowered height will reduce the chance that dormant grass matts down and rots due to foot traffic or drainage issues.
A sharp, frequent cut keeps your turf resilient and disease-resistant well into dormancy.
(Related: Mowing Matters)
Clear the Leaves Before They Do Damage
Fallen leaves harbor fungus, smother grass, and block sunlight, leading to weakened turf and an increased risk of disease.
Remove leaves weekly to keep the lawn clean and the task manageable.
Use a mower with a bagging attachment to mulch and remove leaves efficiently—this works best when done consistently before leaves pile up.
Blow leaves out of landscaped areas before using a mower for collection.
Avoid wet leaves—they become exponentially harder to remove.
Pro Tip: Mulching and removing leaves dulls mower blades quickly. Sharpen blades before the spring mowing season.
(Related: Lawn Disease)
Set Yourself Up for Next Season
Think of fall lawn care as an investment. A lawn that enters winter healthy and well-cared-for emerges in spring ready to thrive. Neglect it now, and the first half of your next season will be spent playing catch-up—repairing damage, reseeding, and fighting disease.
The choice is simple: finish strong this fall, and enjoy a head start on a beautiful lawn all next year.
Bonus Tip:
When to Mulch
🍂 Refresh mulched areas right after leaf season— between December and January. Don't wait until spring.
🌿 Why Winter Mulching Matters:
Leaf removal often displaces mulch, exposing soil.
Provides insulation against extreme winter temperatures and moisture loss.
Keeps beds looking fresh all season while protecting against summer heat.
How Much Mulch to Apply
✅ Existing Mulch: Apply a 1-inch layer to refresh beds after leaf removal.
✅ Bare Areas: Apply a 2-3 inch layer for full coverage and insulation.
⚠️ Avoid Over-Mulching: Do not pile mulch too thick around plant bases. Excessive mulch can suffocate roots and cause