Fall Clean Up & Other Tips for a Healthy Lawn

Early to mid November is prime time for fall cleanup. As the winter begins to set in around late November, it gets tougher and tougher to clean your yard due to frozen turf and wet conditions. So, before the real cold sets in, you should get a handle on your lawn cleanup. We have a few helpful tips to prepare your lawn for the cold.

A lot of people will rake the leaves and then leave piles. Most people don’t realize that this can kill your grass! So be sure to remove piles the same day. Start your fall raking, or blowing, early as conditions tend to get tougher deeper into the season.

This fall has been especially rainy here in Massachusetts. High rain levels equal high fungus levels on tree and shrub foliage. It is best to dispose of these leaves off property to get rid of fungal spores.

Also, don’t forget about those pesky little acorns. Try to remove as many as possible from your lawn. Yes, it is hard to get them all. If you do not remove the acorns, they will become embedded in your lawn and it will become extremely difficult to remove them come springtime.

Additionally, as I’ve written in previous , fall is a great time to conduct a soil test. The ideal pH level is between 6.2 and 6.8. It is good to know if your soil lacks beneficial nutrients as well. We recommend calling a professional to carefully evaluate the health of your lawn. Professionals can quickly identify if you need a soil test and can help you avoid applying too much or too little lime or fertilizer.

Remember to have your shrubs sprayed with deer repellent.  Deer cause major damage especially to Arborvitae , Yews and Rhododendron. The worst damage occurs during winter months, so begin protecting your shrubs now.

Fall is a great time to apply winterizing fertilizers to build up reserves in your lawn's root system. This will give your lawn a good jump start going into next spring !