Summer is sadly almost over. Cooler September temperatures will be here before you know it and that means it’s time to give out some pre-winter lawn care tips.

What many homeowners fail to understand is that the September and October are actually the very best times to work on the overall thickness and general health of your turf. Summers in the Midwest in general can be very hard on your Kentucky Bluegrass or Perennial Rye, causing browning from drought stress. But this is not a reason to give up.

Take Advantage of the Cooler Temps

Cooler fall temperatures stimulate your lawn’s root system to grow deeper and thicker. This means the top of the lawn that everyone sees will also begin thickening up. A thicker lawn should be your ultimate goal as a thicker lawn will resist most other problems.

Use the Right Fertilizer

Your lawn definitely needs to be fertilized during this root growth period. You should use a fertilizer with a rating of 20-20-10 or 20-10-10. Some suppliers refer to this as “starter fertilizer” but it works great for existing lawns as well. The key with starter fertilizers is the potassium and phosphorus that will strengthen the root system of the turf.

If you have dog urine spots in your lawn that have died out during the summer, this root stimulating fertilizer rate will help those areas grow back. In addition, be sure to saturate the dog urine spots with water often to wash away the excess.

Aeration is a Must

Aerating your lawn will help to loosen hard, compacted soil and aid in the spreading of the root system. (can you tell that we are all about the grass roots here?)

Aeration will also direct air, water and nutrients to the root system as well as reduce thatch buildup in the lawn. Thatch is the layer of organic matter that resides just above the soil line. Some thatch is needed to retain moisture and prevent soil erosion, but too much can restrict the lawn’s growth and create shallow rooting. Aeration effectively punches holes in the thatch to keep it manageable.

Growing New Grass Seed

After you aerate the lawn, lay down some fresh grass seed. We want a general over-seeding that will add fresh cultivars to the lawn that are more disease and drought resistant. Always buy quality seed that has 99.9% grass seed and no inert or other noxious seed included. If you have thin areas in your lawn, you can throw more grass seed there and cover it with top soil or peat moss. Water the new grass seed daily to increase the germination rate.

Cut the Lawn Tall

You should NEVER scalp your lawn, but in the fall you definitely want to cut as tall as your mower will go. You also should mulch the clippings to return nutrients to the soil. The only time you should cut the lawn a little lower is the very last cut of the year. At this time, you should set the mower about 2 settings lower than normal. This will help prevent winter die-back.

With these important lawn tips, you should be well on your way to a thicker lawn by later fall. It takes some work, but is well worth the effort when spring arrives and you can enjoy the fruits of all your labor.