Why Fall Is the Best Time of Year for Lawn Repair

A well-maintained lawn makes your entire property look clean and well-cared for. However, lawn issues like brown grass, weeds, and pests can be frustrating and impact the quality of your space. This guide reviews common lawn challenges and solutions so you know when to call a professional to ensure your commercial property looks fantastic.

Why Fall Is the Best Time of Year for Lawn Repair

Summer and spring are growing seasons, and your lawn will flourish. However, because of the weed pressure created by moist weather conditions, these times aren’t ideal for dealing with lawn issues, which require time and space for the best results.

The best time to deal with dying grass and other issues is fall. Investing in your lawn in the fall will improve next year’s conditions because of:

Moist conditions: Wetter soil in the fall season speeds seed germination and root growth.
Cooler air: Dropping nighttime temperatures reduces heat stress and lowers evaporation, which helps new grass establish itself quickly.
Competition drops: As weeds and pests taper off in the fall, new grass growth will have the space to take hold and strengthen its roots before the winter months.

5 Key Elements to Achieve a Beautiful Lawn

There are five critical lawn maintenance tasks that you need to achieve a well-maintained lawn:

1. Regular Mowing and Edging

It’s essential to have a mowing and edging schedule to ensure your lawn grows even and lines stay crisp. Depending on your grass type and the season, you’ll probably need to have the lawn mowed every 7 to 14 days. Edging ensures the lines around curbs and walkways are clean and no grass or weeds encroach on garden beds or pathways. To prepare for winter, your lawn care service will gradually shorten the length of your grass during the fall to avoid issues with matting and snow mold.

2. Fertilization and Soil Testing

Fertilize to keep grass lush and green, giving weeds no growing space. Fall is the best time to fertilize cool-season grasses, while warm-season grasses should be fertilized in late spring. To determine your lawn’s specific needs, you should start with a soil test, which determines the pH and amounts of phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients the soil needs.

3. Weed and Pest Control

You probably have pests like moles and weeds if you notice soil mounds, chewed grass blades, and off-type plants growing quickly above the lawn. Control weeds and keep your property’s lawn strong through services like fertilization, irrigation installation, and herbicide treatments. Severe pest infestation may require specialized professional exterminators.

4. Water and Irrigation

Investing in a sprinkler irrigation system will save you time and money. It includes everything needed to optimize water release timing and regulate the amount to meet your landscape’s requirements.

5. Top Dressing

Lawns in need of some extra support can find it with a top dressing of compost. Best applied during the fall months, compost contains natural nutrients and increases the organic matter your grass and plants need to flourish. Compost can also strengthen your soil by balancing the density, allowing healthy seed germination and root growth.

Common Lawn Issues and Solutions

Shaping and controlling a piece of land is incredibly fulfilling, but it has its challenges. If you’re wondering what is wrong with your lawn, it could be:

Dry and Wilted Lawn Patches

Brown patches with dry and wilted turf could indicate a grub infestation. Beetle larvae usually eat the system’s thin feeder roots, making it difficult for the grass to absorb nutrients and water. If the turf feels spongy, doesn’t respond to water, or you notice more animals digging, grubs may be the issue.

Thin Grass and Bare Spots

Thinning or bare spots on your lawn usually result from compacted soil. This happens over time and means the soil cannot take in the water and nutrients it needs, leading to withering. To resolve this issue, aeration — creating small holes in soil to allow better water, oxygen, and nutrient flow — helps break down dead grass and promotes healthy growth.

No Grass Growth

If there is no growth in a specific spot, try pruning overhanging plants to allow more sunlight. It could also be drainage or issues with the pH. A soil test and an inspection for water pooling may help you determine the root cause.

Threads Over the Grass

If you notice red or white threads over your grass, it’s not a spider but red thread, a summer lawn disease that affects the surface, not the root system. Fall fertilization is vital for ensuring your lawn can fight off this fungus.

Brown Circular Patches

Circular brown patches, with some green in the middle, could indicate brown patch lawn disease. It could also be a symptom of overwatering, too much nitrogen, or poor drainage. To avoid this, your landscaping provider may suggest solutions like fertilization or aeration to resolve the brown spots.

Weeds and Groundcover

Common lawn weeds, like crabgrass or clover, can be tough to eliminate, as their seeds are carried by animals or the wind. Weeds cause problems because they outcompete your grass for essential nutrients, which is why it’s so important to repair your lawn during the fall. Proper grass germination in the fall can prevent spring and summer weeds by giving them less space to grow.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fixing Grass

For further information on how to fix your grass lawn, see the following FAQs:

How can I improve drainage on my property? Water pooling will damage grass, so to ensure it drains properly, have regular soil aeration services, regrade slopes if necessary, and clear any obstacles that may trap water. Tailored water management and irrigation services can optimize your property’s watering schedule.
How do I care for high-traffic areas? Walkways should be installed in high-traffic areas to keep people off the grass, but if you have areas of the lawn that experience high traffic, try overseeding during the early fall months. This process involves planting seeds directly into the lawn to fill dead spots.
What should I look for in a professional lawn care service? Look for their experience and customer service track record, which five-star reviews should support. Ensure they have the proper licenses and certifications for operating the machines they use, as well as the local horticultural knowledge to meet your needs.

Why Commercial Lawn Care Is Important for Businesses

Maintaining the turf and landscaping around your property provides environmental benefits like preventing soil erosion, helping drainage, and leaving a clear, well-kept surface for customers and employees. But did you know lawn care services can also impact your business? Commercial lawn care is important because it:

Improves brand image: A well-manicured lawn helps create a great first impression. When customers know you care for your lawn, it builds a positive brand association.
Increases safety: Clear, trimmed edges and plants cut to size will reduce trip hazards and improve sightlines, lowering the risk of an incident.
Smooths traffic flow: Without regular services and maintenance, growing seasons like summer and spring can cause vegetation to cover pathways and directional signs, leading to confusion.
Controls costs: You’ll save money and time by paying smaller fees for regular maintenance and avoiding lawn care problems.

Request a Professional Quote Today

When it comes to lawn care for commercial properties and businesses, it’s best to call a professional service. At Greenscape, we are a full-service landscape design, development, and maintenance company with over three decades of experience serving commercial and corporate clients, crafting landscaping solutions tailored to their needs.