8 fall lawn care tips to keep your grass healthy year-round.

1. Turn fallen leaves into “black gold.”

As much as we love the sight of golden leaves, we don't love it when they all fall down onto the lawn.  Clumps of matted leaves trap moisture, breed fungal diseases, block sunlight and host pests. But, with a little mulching and composting, you can turn your leaves into an asset instead of a liability.

Leaves and grass clippings are a potent source of nutrients (aka “black gold,” a term that gardening enthusiasts love to call compost mulch). Instead of throwing away the leaves, tun the mower over them to mulch them into the lawn. Or, rake them into a compost pile and let them break down into rich soil.

Either way, you can use these fallen leaves to infuse nutrients back into your soil and garden beds. 

2. Keep mowing your grass until the first frost.

During the cooler months, grass grows at a slower rate, but that doesn’t mean you should stop mowing. Your grass should be about 2-2 ½ (maybe even 3) inches during the fall. Avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass blades at a time.

Make a couple of passes to finely mulch fallen leaves and keep mowing at regular intervals up until the first frost of the season. The last mow of the fall should be on the shorter side, leaving grass around 2 inches tall (this is important if you want to avoid pests or mold). After that, your grass will go dormant as the weather gets colder. And you can put your lawn mower up for a nice, long winter break. 

Related: How often should you mow your lawn?

3. If the soil is compacted, aerate your lawn.

Over time, yards that get a lot of foot traffic, heavy rainfall or wear and tear will eventually become compacted. Soil compaction makes it harder for air, water and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass. The solution: aeration.

Fall is one of the best times to aerate your lawn. The aeration process involves punching plugs of compacted soil out of your lawn’s surface, opening up spaces for the turf to breathe. If you suspect that your lawn is getting a bit compacted, aerate it as soon as the weather starts to cool down but before it becomes freezing. 

You can do it manually or with a rented machine, like a core aerator. Plenty of folks take on aeration as a DIY project. But, if you have a large yard, you might want to think about hiring a professional to care for your lawn.

Related: Dethatching your lawn: when, how and why you should.

4. Overseed to fix those bare spots.

Summer can be brutal on your lawn. Drought, heat and excessive foot traffic often leave ugly bare patches in turf, making a yard look rugged and unkempt.

Overseeding is one way to help you create a beautiful lawn. And one of the best times to overseed cool-season lawns is during early fall. This is when temperatures have cooled down and rainfall has resumed. (For warm-season lawns, consider overseeding in the late spring or early summer).

After seeding, irrigation is critically important. Grass seeds need water (and fertilizer), and they should be kept moist while they germinate. Moral of the story: make sure you’re watering them frequently. 

5. Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize. 

Nourishing the soil is an important part of fall lawn maintenance — some say it’s the most important of all.

Fertilizing your lawn in the fall encourages focused root growth. And that healthy winter root development will keep turf grass dense and lush in the hotter, drier months next year. Yes, grass and leaf clippings contain amazing nutrients — but organic fertilizer applied after aeration can help encourage strong root growth in the cooler months. 

If you have cool-season grass, the best time to apply fall fertilizer is from September through November. Measure carefully to ensure that you use the right amount of fertilizer. Pro tip: it’s often recommended that you aerate your lawn before you fertilize it. 

6. Water your grass and plants before the soil freezes.

Cooler weather means that lawns need less irrigation overall, but it doesn't mean that you don't have to water at all. Lawns need about an inch of water each week to stay healthy year-round. And while you’re at it, give your other plants a deeper watering before the weather becomes so cold that the soil freezes.

Tip: An inexpensive rain gauge will help determine how much water the lawn is getting naturally. It's far too easy to overestimate the volume of water that falls during a storm.

Related: How long should you water your lawn?

7. Get weeds under control now.

Take advantage of the slower rate of growth and seed germination in the cool fall months, and get on top of your weed control situation now. Cool temperatures offer an opportune moment for manually removing weeds by hand. The more thorough your fall weed control is, the less you'll have to fight weeds emerging in the spring. 

For serious broadleaf weed problems, you might want to consider spot treating with a pre-emergent herbicide. Some herbicides will kill many plants, but others can be used to kill only specific kinds of weeds. When in doubt, chat with a professional to see what your weed control options are.

8. Winterize your lawn equipment.

You're not the only one who will breathe a sigh of relief when the mowing is over. Lawn mowers, weed eaters, hedge trimmers and edgers are also happy to take a winter vacation.

At the end of the season, sharpen your lawn mower blades, perform maintenance, drain fuel and do any other tasks that are necessary for winterizing lawn equipment. For example, you should also drain your hoses to avoid freezing pipes, and take steps now to protect your sprinkler system.

Related: Your complete fall home maintenance checklist.

Find lawn care services on Thumbtack.

Fall lawn care is fairly straightforward, but there are many different moving parts. If you don't have the time, or if the idea of doing it alone is overwhelming, you have options. Use Thumbtack to connect with top-rated lawn care services near you.