For the most part, Texas is blessed with warm, mild weather when the rest of the country is breaking out the sweaters and preparing for the cold parts of the year. But that being said, we’re not completely exempt from freezing temperatures. By taking care of your turfgrass and plants in fall, you’ll give them the best chance possible of making it through fall and winter unscathed – and they’ll have a running start next spring! Here’s what you should take into account when conducting fall yard maintenance.
Fall Lawn Maintenance For Texas
Feed Your Plants
That goes for your turfgrass and the largest plants in your yard. Now’s the time when they will turn their focus away from growing above the surface to strengthening their roots and storing nutrients for winter. To make sure they have enough minerals, make sure to give them fertilizer.
Fertilizer For Trees
The best tree fertilizer in fall and early winter is a deep-root injection. This delivers targeted nutrients directly to the tree’s root zone, ensuring that only the tree or shrub gets the food. If you sprinkle fertilizer around the tree’s base, any nearby plants, like turfgrass, could compete with the tree for those minerals. By injecting the fertilizer directly into the root zone, you avoid this problem. It’s similar to getting a b-vitamin shot at the doctor’s office. By bypassing the digestive tract, your body can absorb a higher level of minerals. Autumn fertilizer is vital for trees in more urban areas. They face more stressors than trees in rural areas, including low moisture, physical damage, construction, and pollution. When trees don’t have enough food, they are more likely to contract diseases or develop pest infestations.
Fertilizer For Lawns
Slow-release fertilizers are ideal for fall because they dissolve more gradually. This ensures your turfgrass has enough supplies for the next few months instead of a fast-release fertilizer that can wash out of the soil after a good rain. Slow-release fertilizers are also less likely to burn the grass inadvertently.
Protect Trees and Shrubs From Wintering Insects
Most creatures either spend winter hibernating, sheltered or die off before winter comes. The last is true for many insects. Their life cycles are short, and many will lay their eggs and then die before or during early winter. Unfortunately, many bugs like to nest on our trees and shrubs! You can avoid many headaches next spring by treating your larger plants with a dormant oil application. Also known as horticulture oil, these products will coat your plants in a substance that is perfectly safe for plant life but devastating for insects. It will knock out bugs no matter which part of their life cycle they’re on – eggs, larvae, adults. None stand a chance. And because it lasts for quite a while, it will prevent any new bugs from getting ideas.
Deal A Preemptive Blow To Weeds
You can apply a pre-emergent weed control measure in the fall to target any weeds that are lurking in your yard but haven’t yet germinated. This will set your yard up for success next spring. And if you notice any broadleaf weeds that have managed to slip through the summer defenses, now is a good time to tackle them. Adding a post-emergent weed control product to your lawn maintenance routine will help you win the war on weeds. Make sure the product is “selective” if you intend to spot-treat in the turfgrass or flower beds. A selective product won’t harm the grass or any other plants you want to keep around. It’s designed only to target broadleaf weeds. Now, if you want to knock out those pesky weeds in the cracks of your driveway, you can use a non-selective herbicide in that circumstance. Chances are, you’re not trying to preserve plants growing where they shouldn’t be.
Clear Out Organic Debris
It’s highly advisable to rake up and clear out any twigs, branches, leaves, or other dead bits of plant that have fallen on your grass. You can use fallen leaves as mulch for garden beds if you like, but be careful not to put down too thick of a layer. This will trap too much moisture and could invite pests of both insect and microscopic variety. It’s also a good idea to rake your lawn to remove thatch build-up. Thatch is the layer of dead organic material in your lawn. Typically, it’s the result of dead grass blades. All lawns have some thatch in them, and having a thin layer is good. It’s like free mulch for your yard! However, when the thatch is too thick, it can smother the grass. And in early fall, it’s at its thickest since the grass has grown and died off, grown and died off, all summer long.
Assess For Damage
Take a gander over your entire yard and make a note of anything that looks like it could use some repairs:
- Thin or bare patches
- Damaged, dead, or dying branches
- Leaves that look diseased
- Signs of insect activity
When it comes to lawn care, the sooner you fix a problem, the better. If you’re not sure what to look for, ask your lawn care services technician! We’re happy to help you spot potential problems and address them before they turn ugly.
Let Organic Matter Lawncare Handle The Yardwork For You!
If you’re looking for lawn care services near Grapevine, look no further. The experts at Organic Matter will ensure your lawn and trees have the nutrients and protection they need for the fall and winter. Our lawn care program will spot treat for pesky weeds while simultaneously fertilizing your turfgrass, and our tree care program will deliver protective dormant oils to keep bugs away from your larger ornamental plants. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call us at 817-888-8961 or leave us a message online.
And don’t forget – you can check out our blog page for more tips and advice on lawn care, tree care, and pest control!
