Fall is one of the best times of the year to give your lawn and garden the care they need.
With cool, dry nights and warm, sunny days, September and October offer the perfect growing conditions to prepare your outdoor spaces for a healthy, vibrant spring. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to keep your yard thriving.
LAWN CARE TIPS
1. Remove Excess Thatch & Aerate Just like in spring, early fall is the perfect time to remove excess thatch — the layer of dry, dead organic material that builds up on your lawn. Thatch can block water, air, and nutrients from reaching the soil. By dethatching and aerating now, you’ll improve root development and prepare your grass for the next steps.
2. Over-Seed for a Thicker Lawn September is ideal for over-seeding, especially in northern regions. The combination of sunny days, cool nights, and natural morning dew creates perfect conditions for grass seed germination. Over-seeding now helps fill in thin spots, creating a lush, thick lawn — and as a bonus, a dense lawn is your best natural defense against weeds.
3. Amend & Feed the Soil Applying a high-quality lawn food --like The Old Farmer's Almanac Lawn Food-- between mid-September and mid-October helps strengthen your lawn’s root system before winter. Feeding your soil now boosts stored energy, resulting in a thicker, greener, and more resilient lawn come spring.
GARDEN CARE TIPS
1. Clean Up & Weed Before winter sets in, remove any remaining weeds — roots and all. A clean garden bed now means fewer unwanted surprises popping up next spring.
Split Overgrown Perennials If your perennials have become crowded, early fall is the perfect time to divide and replant them. Dig up sections, including the roots, and rehome them in other areas of your garden. It’s an easy, cost-effective way to expand your garden’s beauty without buying new plants.
Fertilize Trees & Shrubs Fall is one of the best times to feed your trees and shrubs so they can store energy for winter and thrive in spring. Use Simply Gro Fertilizer Spikes to deliver slow-release nutrients directly to the roots where plants need them most. Just insert the spikes into the soil around the drip line, and they’ll provide steady nourishment all season long — making your trees stronger, your shrubs fuller, and your landscape healthier.
Mulch for Protection Mulch isn’t just for spring! In the fall, mulch plays an important role in protecting plant roots from extreme temperature changes. A 2–3 inch layer helps retain moisture, improve soil health, and regulate temperature. Pro Tip: Avoid creating “mulch volcanoes” around tree bases — too much moisture can lead to fungus and root rot.
Spending a little time in September and October preparing your lawn and garden will pay off big in spring. You’ll enjoy a healthier lawn, stronger plants, fewer weeds, and brighter blooms when the weather warms up again.