The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The days are starting to get shorter. That's a sure indication that fall is just around the corner. Although there are still a lot of warm days to come, it's time to start thinking about what you can do to make sure your lawn stays healthy into the fall and through the winter. The early fall, mid-August to mid-September, is a good time to aerate the lawn, remove an overly thick layer of thatch and spread some fertilizer at about a half a kilogram for every 100 square metres. Saskatchewan Environment's Murray Hilderman says it is also a good time to seed a new lawn or add more seed to an existing lawn. "During the late summer and early fall there is less competition from weeds and the soil moisture and temperature are right for good germination," says Environment's Hilderman. "Seeding this time of year gives the grass a good start before winter. That means the plants will be well rooted and more drought-tolerant for the following summer. Make sure the new grass seed has good contact with the soil by removing dead grass or thatch and applying a little fresh soil or compost to the area you want to seed. Use a hand spreader to apply half the seed in parallel lines then spread the other half by walking over the same area at a 90-degree angle. A grass seed mixture that combines any two or all of Kentucky bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass will produce the best results." Late fall is also a good time to apply a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen and to apply limestone if your soil is too acidic. If you fertilize in September apply the limestone in October. Do not apply limestone after the ground freezes and always be sure to follow the application directions for both limestone and fertilizer. "It's also important to keep your lawn mowed at around five to six centimetres tall," says Environment's Hilderman. "If it gets too tall and mats it may lead to winter lawn disease problems such as snow mould, too short and you limit it's ability to make and store food for growth in spring. Keeping your lawn longer during the summer also helps with moisture retention. Raking off excess leaves and using them for mulch around roses or other perennials also reduces the possibility of problems with mould. The leaves also help to protect the perennials from the cold and helps to retain moisture."
