Fall is the most important season for your lawn in North Georgia. The work you do between September and November decides how your grass looks next April. Here's what to put on your list.
1. Know your grass type
Everything else depends on this. Bermuda and zoysia are warm-season grasses. They slow down and go tan after the first frost. Tall fescue is a cool-season grass that stays green through winter and does most of its growing in fall and spring.
If you're not sure which one you have, look at your yard in January. Brown means Bermuda or zoysia. Green means fescue.
2. Aerate and overseed fescue
September and October are prime time for fescue. Core aeration pulls plugs out of compacted clay so air, water and seed can reach the roots. Overseed right after, while the holes are open.
Keep new seed moist with light daily watering for the first two to three weeks, then back off to deeper, less frequent watering.
3. Put down your fall pre-emergent
Most people remember spring pre-emergent for crabgrass. Fewer remember the fall round, which stops winter weeds like poa annua and henbit before they sprout. Apply it in September to early October.
One catch: pre-emergent also stops grass seed from growing. If you're overseeding fescue, skip it on those areas or use a product made for new seedings.
4. Feed at the right time
- Fescue: fertilize in September and again in November. This is when it builds roots.
- Bermuda and zoysia: stop nitrogen by early September. Feeding them late pushes tender growth that winter can damage.
5. Keep mowing, a little higher
Don't stop mowing just because it's cooler. Raise the mower a notch for the last few cuts on fescue. Bermuda and zoysia can be mowed until they go dormant.
6. Stay on top of leaves
A thick layer of leaves left on the lawn blocks light and holds moisture against the grass, which invites disease. Mulch light leaf cover with the mower. Rake or blow heavy piles off every week or two.
7. Check your irrigation before it freezes
Run each zone one last time to spot broken heads and leaks. Then set your controller to water less often, and make sure your rain and freeze sensor is working before the first hard frost.
Want a hand this fall?
Our lawn care guide explains what a full lawn program includes and what to ask before you hire. You can also read about the local landscapers we've featured, who handle aeration, overseeding and fall cleanup across Metro Atlanta.