Fall Lawn Care Tips

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(ARA) - If it could talk, your lawn would thank you for all the hard work you've done this summer. All the time spent mowing, trimming, watering, removing debris . . . call it a "labor of love" that your lawn really appreciates.

But each year as the leaves change color and begin their aerial assault on your yard, you put away the garden tools and head inside, rekindling the flame for football games and turkey stuffing. That hardly seems fair to your yard.

These lawn care tips will help you make sure your grass doesn't "fall" behind over the autumn season. You'll also be increasing your chances of having a healthy lawn in the spring and throughout the year.

Follow this fall checklist to keep your yard looking beautiful all year long: * Keep fallen leaves off your lawn. They block the sun, and sunlight is essential to the growth and development of your lawn's root system. During the cooler months, your lawn is making food to store in the root system so that it can continue to grow underground in the dormant season. That means it needs more food than normal and all the sunlight it can get. So rake those leaves!

• If raking leaves has become a hassle, simply convert your leaves to mulch by attaching a materials collection system to your mower, or use mower deck systems that mulch the leaves and blow them right back into the turf. These mulching mower decks enable you to leave your rake in the garage and avoid bagging leaves. Even better, the mulched leaves provide a nutrient-rich boost to the soil.
• After a summer full of children playing in the yard, your soil can become compacted, causing your grass to lose its lush look. You can reduce this ground compaction and add air to the soil by aerating your entire lawn. After you aerate, fertilize and water so the nutrients can easily reach the root system.
• It is best to fertilize a month before your lawn goes dormant. The fall fertilization provides important nutrients that help your lawn continue to grow underground throughout the winter.
• A great way to keep your lawn looking thick all year long is to reseed in the fall. First, loosen the soil to a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Then water thoroughly for several weeks to help settle the soil. Next, fertilize and spread seed generously following the recommended guidelines.

By following these simple techniques, you will help keep your lawn healthy and free of leaves this fall. So enjoy the colors, the cooler weather and be the envy of all the neighbors!

For more information, contact John Deere customer communications at (800) 537-8233.

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