With autumn beginning today, the season change reminds us of things we must do to prepare for winter and next spring. Here are a few tips to consider for fall lawn care.

~To ensure a healthy lawn next spring, fertilize this fall. Warm-season grasses can be fertilized through September. Cool-season grasses can be successfully fertilized during the months of September, October and November. This will promote stronger roots and crowd out the weeds before they have a chance to crop up.

~When mowing the lawn for the final time this season, set the blade height to 2” or as low as 1 ½” to help the grass survive cold winter weather.

~ September is the most effective time to apply a grub control product, if grubs are a problem to your lawn.

~Fall is the ideal time to seed a new lawn with cool season grasses such as bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass and bentgrass.

~Or, plant a crop of white clover in a field or pasture to feed the deer through winter and to add additional nutrients to your soil in spring, when you disc your fields.

Deborah Tukua, coauthor of Pearls of Garden Wisdom.

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