When the snow melts and the earth warms up a little, the owners are looking forward to the appearance of the first green sprouts on the lawn. But what is their surprise when bald patches or patches of yellow, withered grass appear on the once green lawn.
The reasons for the deplorable state of the classic lawn can be different. But the main point that the summer resident forgot about in the fall is the pre-winter preparation of the lawn for winter, which includes a number of timely events.
Content:
Read also: Perennial flowers (TOP 50 species): garden catalog for giving with photos and names | Video + Reviews
Autumn lawn irrigation: is watering necessary?
Winterizing your lawn will be more successful with the right tools.
The question remains: does the lawn need additional moisture in the fall. The amount of precipitation during September-October is excessive: autumn rainy weather is not new to anyone. The saturation of the soil with moisture is obvious. Additionally, it is impossible to create puddles on the surface: the roots will get wet, and the grass will go “for the winter” weakened.
If the weather is dry in September, then the “green carpet” is watered once a week. The best way is sprinkling, so that the earth is slowly saturated with moisture. In late autumn, watering is stopped altogether: waterlogging of the soil will have a bad effect on plants during the subsequent cold snap.
Another criterion for stopping sprinkling is temperature drop to +10C.
Read also: Projects of country houses for 6-10 acres: 120 photos, description and requirements | The most interesting ideas Weeding combined with scarification
Removing cut grass and sod with a special rake
By autumn, weeds grow on the lawn, islands of moss appear somewhere or an excessive layer of turf accumulates, which is undesirable. Plant debris appears: fallen leaves, coniferous needles, twigs. The earth is compacted, the penetration of oxygen to the roots is difficult.
Cleaning and airing will help revive the lawn and prepare it for winter. September is the best time to hold these events.
In autumn, the scarification procedure is carried out. It includes the removal of moss growths, the cleaning of plant debris, and also helps to get rid of the layer of straw felt that forms when the grass is not regularly cleaned after mowing.
Without scarification:
- air and water will not be able to penetrate to the roots;
- sod is formed on the surface;
- the root system develops worse;
- the grass starts to hurt.
It is important to remove weeds that grow and clog lawn grass
Before starting work, it is required to shed the lawn, but do not overmoisten it. The earth should not be damp, not dry, but moderately moist. Further:
- Use a garden trowel or rake to remove the moss cap. If mechanical intervention does not help, then ferrous sulfate is used to eradicate moss.
- Due to the weeding knife, remove weeds, trying to uproot the “problem”
- Using a scarifier, clean the lawn to a depth of 2-4 mm, removing the vegetable felt.Deep scarification is dangerous: damage to the root system of lawn grasses is possible.
Do I need to "ventilate" the lawn or aeration procedure
One of the options for the aeration procedure
Lawn care in autumn and its preparation for winter includes aeration, which has the following goal:
- restore the drainage of soil compacted over the summer, which becomes dense;
- provide air to the roots of grasses.
For piercing the lawn, ordinary pitchforks or special devices for sneakers with teeth are suitable. The number of punctures depends on the degree of trampled grass. In a small area, you will have to make 5-6, and if the soil is compacted, then up to 10-12 punctures.
It is advisable to follow the rules:
- Piercing with a pitchfork is done through 20-30 cm from each other
- The depth of the punctures is 15-20 cm
- During the extraction of the pitchfork from the ground, it is advisable to slightly lift the top layer and leave it in this form. After that, the lawn will look uneven for 2-3 days, and then it will take its original form.
- After the procedure, you can walk on the grass only after a week. This will prevent the formation of defects on the surface.
Cleaning up plant debris is part of the care of a classic lawn
A controversial issue is the cleaning of fallen leaves. Proponents of natural farming argue that foliage should be left untouched. But the lawn is a landscape that is created artificially, so the approach to it is somewhat different.
Fallen leaves thicken the layer of snow and in the spring an ice crust forms, the top layer is pressed and it is difficult for the grass to get out into the light. Grass should be raked to avoid unpleasant consequences from leaf litter.
On the eve of the first frost, irregularities or pits must be leveled. Cover with a layer of fresh earth and plant seeds in it so that spring shoots appear in the form of an even, green carpet.
Planting seeds of cereals is carried out in September, so that they can take root. Thanks to leveling and overseeding in the spring, the lawn will look well-groomed.
Read also: How to make a children's house with your own hands: from wood and other materials. Dimensional drawings | (80 Photo Ideas & Videos) "Lawn hairstyle" or haircut
Grass prepared for winter should be no higher than 6-7 cm.
If during the summer trimming the grass with a lawn mower is carried out often and regularly, then mowing the lawn in the fall is a rare procedure. Cereal grasses grow more slowly in autumn, and they should be carefully trimmed every 10 days, and at the end of August - once every 2 weeks.
The most pressing question is when to mow the lawn for the last time before wintering. It all depends on the specific climate zone and weather conditions. If the forecast foreshadows a drop in temperature and the onset of frost after 2 weeks, then it's time to start the last haircut.
Grass height is allowed within 6-7 cm. If the shoots are cut higher, they will fall down and die under the snow cover, if lower, they will weaken and it will take time to restore them. Areas where the grass grows sparsely or looks weakened are not cut, otherwise it will not have time to recover.
The cut grass must be raked by hand so as not to clog the classic lawn cleaned and prepared for winter with hay. Crop residue should be moved and used to create compost or as mulch.
Read also: How to make a booth for a dog with your own hands: building a home in the yard and in the apartment. Drawings, dimensions and original ideas (55+ Photos & Videos) + Reviews
Autumn top dressing: supporting lawn grass with batteries
Spraying nutrient mixtures throughout the lawn
Lawn grass care in the fall includes top dressing. It is most useful to use organic mixtures that will not harm the inhabitants of the soil: earthworms, microorganisms, insects. The last top dressing is desirable to be done 10 days before frost.
If mineral fertilizers are applied dry in the form of granules or powder, then at first the “green carpet” is thoroughly saturated with moisture. Then top dressing is scattered with a spreader and two days later shed again.
A good option is to add bone meal, which is used 10 days before frost at the rate of 2-3 cups per square meter. It will lower the pH of the soil and gradually saturate it with nutrients. Wood ash has a similar effect. Garden centers sell ready-made mineral compositions with microelements for winter application to the lawn.
Superphosphate double as top dressing
From inorganics, gardeners fertilize the green area with phosphorus and potassium, using one potash and one phosphorus fertilizer to choose from:
- double superphosphate: 50-70 g/m. sq.;
- potassium sulfate or potassium sulfate: 20-30 g/m. sq.;
- potassium magnesia: 30-60 g/m. sq.;
- potassium salt: 30-40 g/m. sq.
Soil liming
The reason for the “sloppy” look of the grass can be a highly acidic soil that needs liming.
If there is an abundant growth of weeds (especially horsetails and mosses), then this indicates soil acidification. For the growth of cereals, a neutral or slightly acidic environment is optimal, so liming is necessary.
The level of acidity is recommended to be measured with a simple pH meter in the form of litmus paper, which is placed on wet ground. The color of the strip will show the pH of the substrate, and if the indicator is below 7-6 points, then liming should be started.
Compounds with calcium are introduced on time: in September-October, when the grass stops growing. The territory is treated with chalk, dolomite or calcium carbonate.
If the lawn is quickly overgrown with moss, then the best option is fertilization with calcium and magnesium. The dosage is selected according to the instructions on the package, pre-grinding the contents of the package to obtain a homogeneous powder.
For liming a classic lawn, slaked lime is not used, which is poorly perceived by cereal crops. Do not mix chalk or dolomite with other fertilizers. Their interaction can lead to the fact that the nutrients will be in a form inaccessible to plants. They will fall into the soil, but the roots will not be able to extract the necessary substances.
Dolomite flour is used for liming the soil
![[Instruction] Do-it-yourself laminate on a wooden floor: a complete description of the process. Laying schemes, what materials should be used (Photo & Video) + Reviews](https://iherb.bedbugus.biz/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/laminat-300x200.jpg)
Read also: [Instruction] Do-it-yourself laminate on a wooden floor: a complete description of the process. Laying schemes, what materials should be used (Photo & Video) + Reviews How to plant grass in autumn
Fall is the perfect time to renew your old lawn.
What to do if part of its surface is exposed, and the existing herbs are not in the best condition? How to restore grass cover? The lawn is sown not only in the spring: this event is also held in the autumn. At this time, you can sow grass for a new lawn and to restore the old one, or lay a rolled lawn.
Use the fan method of sowing, scattering the seeds around the entire perimeter of the old bare or new area. Seed material is covered with a rake, and sprinkled with a thin layer of peat on top and watered. It is better to use sprinkling so that the seeds are not washed out and do not end up on the surface.
Lawn planting time - September. Before frost, the grasses will have time to sprout, take root, rest, and adapt to new conditions. They will go under the snow strengthened and winter well.
Fertilization and initial leveling of the soil for the future lawn
Another option is winter sowing in November, when frosts begin. In this case, the consumption of seeds is increased by 20% with the expectation that some of them will freeze and not sprout. Seeds are lightly buried in the ground and covered with mulch.
In this form, they hibernate, and wake up in the spring, thanks to melt water and heat, they begin to grow. If the site is located on a slope, then winter sowing is not suitable for it. In the spring, the movement of melt water will begin, and the seeds will be washed away along with the top layer of soil.
Pests and diseases and measures to control invaders
Among lawn grasses, two types of diseases are common:
- Infectious, which infect cereal plants (for example, fungal spores), causing their death. These are fusarium, powdery mildew, rust, red filiformity and a number of others. Mold raids are not uncommon in waterlogged areas
- Parasitic - this is the "capture" of the lawn by other microorganisms. Parasitic plants appear on dying, neglected lawns. Mushrooms, lichens, algae capture large areas, displacing grass turf. Poor nutrition of cereals, lack of drainage and soil compaction lead to similar consequences.
Fungicide treatment is carried out using a special sprayer around October, when plant growth has not yet completely stopped. There is no concept of "lawn fungicides" in the Russian Federation, therefore, they use preparations tested on other crops.
wireworm
Pests from which cereal grasses suffer are bread mites, wireworms, Swedish fly. But moles and ants cause more harm. To combat moles, ultrasonic repellers or traps are used, the aroma of red pepper or cinnamon, which is abundantly sprinkled on the lawn, is unpleasant for ants.
In order for a classic lawn to please with tender and juicy greenery, it should be properly looked after. Healthy, strong plants have good immunity. They get sick less and avoid attacks by pests.
Read also: Do-it-yourself furniture and other wood products: drawings of benches, tables, swings, birdhouses and other household items (85+ Photos & Videos) Lawn care tailored to specific regions
The end of winter: this is how lawn grass comes out from under the snow
It is impossible to take care of the lawn in the fall without taking into account the climatic features of the region. Each gardener, knowing the climate of his area, draws up a calendar of work. It comes from a decrease in warm days, temperature drops, approaching frosts.
Southern regions
For the southern regions of the country, work on preparing the lawn for winter falls on the end of October - the beginning of November. At this time, they continue to mow the grass, water it, carry out top dressing.
And only closer to November, garbage is removed, the surface is mulched and prepared for winter.
Siberia
Preparing a lawn for winter in Siberia is somewhat different. Winter comes to these parts much earlier, so the departure time is shifted to August - September.
In August, they continue to water the grass and make phosphorus-potassium top dressing. Protecting the grass from freezing, mulching is carried out with a peat-sand mixture.
Ural
In the Urals, the timing of lawn repair is slightly shifted: the main events take place in September - early October. Carry out comprehensive care, which ends with mulching.
The snow cover here is quite large and stable, therefore, the lawn does not freeze through: grasses winter well under the snow.
Moscow region
During the autumn period, gardeners prepare the "green carpet" for winter, according to the schedule of their region.
Leningrad region
In the Leningrad region, due to the humid climate, the number of irrigations is minimized. Thanks to the heat and humidity, the grass grows well, so the lawn is mowed regularly.
Measures to prepare the lawn for winter are ending 2 weeks before frost. This time falls on the middle - the end of October.
Taking care of your lawn in the fall is important and necessary. This is a mandatory procedure that will bring positive results if the gardener listens to the recommendations of specialists.
The classic lawn will decorate the garden plot or the facade of the house for many years, delighting their owners with a green cover of juicy, pale green grass.
Lawn care activities are shown in the video below.
How to prepare your lawn for winter
Lawn care in autumn is a guarantee of its spring renovation from the Moscow region to Siberia
Hello! Very professional and easy to understand lawn care. The most interesting page! Thank you