Late season lawn care

**Trice** · 10-04-2011, 10:51 PM

So I moved into a new house this spring and had planned to do some patching up of the lawn this fall while the weather was still good. Then I got busy landscaping, then football season arrived, now here we are and I'm trying to decide what to do.

Quick summary: we got new sod in early May. I've always thought the quality was average at best. Some areas are very thin, some have a lot of thatch, some areas never "took" at all and are basically dead. Overall it's in decent shape but not up to what I'd like. (I'm debating whether to take up the issue with the builder as well since this is the sod that was installed.)

It's now October and I haven't done any patching, aerating, power raking, overseeding, winterizing, anything. I know I can wait until spring and try to get out early, but is it too late to do anything this year?

Now, my constraints. The yard is over 1/3 acre so somewhat sizable. I'm also super swamped in the next couple of weeks so while I can commit some time, I don't have hours and hours to spare.

Any thoughts on how to proceed this fall would be appreciated. If you have questions, please ask and I'll try to answer.

**cy4prez7** · 10-04-2011, 10:55 PM

One thing you can do is leave the grass a little long the last time you mow. By doing that, the grass has a higher probability of growing back thicker next year!

**RotatingColumn** · 10-04-2011, 10:59 PM

Thanks for the info.. I'll be sure to get out tomorrow and drop the blade into the dirt.
Thinner lawn=mowing less

**MissouriCyclone** · 10-04-2011, 11:00 PM

Fall is the best time to over seed your yard. However it's getting pretty late though and if you want to, do it sometime in the next week. Temps should be cool enough and if you water it quite frequently germination should occur in no time. Also depends on how much you watered the sod from the very beginning.

**dmclone** · 10-05-2011, 05:41 AM

I've always read to mow your lawn long in the summer bur short for the last mow.

**1100011CS** · 10-05-2011, 07:59 AM

Originally Posted by dmclone

I've always read to mow your lawn long in the summer bur short for the last mow.

Me too. Supposedly it forces the roots to grow deeper?

**GeronimusClone** · 10-05-2011, 08:30 AM

As a rule, I always finish deep.

**Senolcyc** · 10-05-2011, 08:36 AM

Drain the mower, put it away, watch football. That is my late season lawn care.

**acgclone** · 10-05-2011, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by Senolcyc

Drain the mower, put it away, watch football. That is my late season lawn care.

I too have pretty much thrown up the white towel in trying to keep the best lawn on the block. Having two little kids sure has zapped the amount of effort I'm willing to put into lawn care.

I'll rehab it in a few years and go from there I guess

**GeronimusClone** · 10-05-2011, 08:46 AM

I can suggest that Spring you will love Fall you if you rake your leaves. Fall me was a lazy dick last year and made Spring me's life suck.

**cy4prez7** · 10-05-2011, 09:21 AM

I have seen great results by leaving it longer each winter.

**00clone** · 10-05-2011, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by acgclone

I too have pretty much thrown up the white towel in trying to keep the best lawn on the block. Having two little kids sure has zapped the amount of effort I'm willing to put into lawn care.

I'll rehab it in a few years and go from there I guess

THIS. I'm only halfway to having 2 little ones (practice, practice), and my late season lawn care advice is to call someone for everything other than mowing. From what I've heard, not TrueGREEN though, go with a local, independent place. We've been happy with our guy here.

**MissouriCyclone** · 10-05-2011, 12:14 PM

Originally Posted by 00clone

THIS. I'm only halfway to having 2 little ones (practice, practice), and my late season lawn care advice is to call someone for everything other than mowing. From what I've heard, not TrueGREEN though, go with a local, independent place. We've been happy with our guy here.

Always go with local independent guy who actually know what they are doing and care about their clients. Had a TrueGREEN guy in my town over summer "accidentally" get the wrong truck and spray 10 yards with Roundup before they stopped him. Those people were ****** as most people would.