You may think that autumn is a time that’s just for raking up leaves and clearing away dead branches.  But when it comes to your lawn, it’s the time when you should be making preparations to help grass survive the winter and prepare for the spring growing season.

General care tips

(1) Fertilize lawns in October so that grass roots can continue to store food over the winter.

(2) Continue to mow your lawn until the grass stops growing around November.

(3) Apply herbicide to avoid damaging nearby garden plants and to eliminate weeds that continue to grow in the fall.

(4) Remove thatch from warm-season grasses to help foster new growth in the spring.

(5) Gather up leaves to prevent the smothering of grass plants.

Warm season grasses used in Austin (and other areas here in the South) tend to turn brown when cooler temperatures arrive.  That’s why it’s wise to overseed your lawn with cool season grasses, like ryegrass, to provide a bit of color over the winter months.

The one thing to remember about overseeding, though, is that timing is absolutely crucial to success.  Here in Austin, it’s wise to lay down cool weather grass seeds between October and early November.