Mowing
Continue to follow the “One-Third Rule,” never removing more than
one-third of the plant. (If you set your mower to mow at 3.0 inches,
mow before the grass reaches 4.5 inches tall.)
Don't leave grass any longer than 3 to 4 inches going into winter.
Long grass can mat, encouraging snow mold.
Make your last cut about 0.5 to 1.0 inch lower than your normal mowing
height to discourage matted grass and snow mold.
Fertilizer
Home lawns with modest expectations do just fine with a single
late-fall fertilization.
Post-emergent herbicides are particularly effective on broadleaf weeds
in fall. That's because the weeds are storing up nutrients for the
winter and move the herbicides down into the roots along with the
nutrients, giving a better kill. If ground ivy (creeping Charley) is a
problem, any product with 2,4-D can provide good control when applied
immediately after the first frost.
Do not fertilize during “Indian summer” – a warm period following hard
frost. This may cause excessive topgrowth, reduce root storage, and
increase winterkill. The best window for fall application is after
topgrowth stops, usually after 10 days when the average daily
temperature has been below 50 degrees F. Roots will continue growing
and taking up fertilizer until the ground freezes.
Leaf Removal
Keep leaves out of roadways or drains. (They can
wash away and pollute waterways with phosphorus.)
Shred fallen leaves with a mulching mower or collect leaves and
compost them before snowfall mats them down, which can kill turf.
Aerate
Lawns plagued by compaction or thatch
(usually not a problem on ryegrass lawns) may benefit from core
aeration.
A core aerator punches small holes in the lawn and pulls out the
cores, increasing the infiltration of water, nutrients and air into
the soil.
It is most effective as temperatures begin to cool and soil moisture
is adequate.
Renovate
Late August and September are good times to
rake up and reseed bare patches in your lawn. (If you live downstate
or on Long Island, this period extends to mid-October.) If your lawn
is more than 50 percent weeds, consider a total renovation. Sod
installation can continue until the ground is frozen.
Weed Control
Post-emergent herbicides are particularly
effective on broadleaf weeds in fall. That's because the weeds are
storing up nutrients for the winter and move the herbicides down into
the roots along with the nutrients, giving a better kill. If ground
ivy (creeping Charley) is a problem, any product with 2,4-D can
provide good control when applied immediately after the first frost.
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