Fall Lawn Care: 7 Tips on How to Prepare Your Niagara Yard for Winter

As the leaves turn and the air gets crisp, it’s easy to think your lawn care duties are winding down. But fall is actually one of the most important times of year for lawn maintenance. Proper care during autumn sets the stage for a lush, green lawn next spring.

Here are the top fall lawn care tips to help your grass survive the winter and thrive come spring:

1. Keep Mowing (But Adjust the Height)

Your grass keeps growing until the first hard frost. Continue mowing regularly, but as temperatures drop, gradually lower your mower blade to give your grass a shorter cut. A final height of about 2.5–3 inches is ideal — short enough to discourage disease, but not so short that it stresses the grass.

2. Rake Up Leaves Promptly

A layer of fallen leaves may look charming, but it can smother your grass and lead to mold growth. Rake or mulch your leaves regularly. A thin layer of shredded leaves can even be mulched into the soil as a natural fertilizer — but thick mats of whole leaves are a no-go.

3. Aerate the Soil

Over time, soil becomes compacted, especially in high-traffic areas. Fall is a great time to aerate your lawn, which loosens the soil and allows water, oxygen, and nutrients to reach the roots more effectively. Core aeration (removing small plugs of soil) is the most effective aeration type for most lawns.

4. Fertilize Before the Ground Freezes

Applying fertilizer in early to mid-fall gives your grass the nutrients it needs to grow strong roots and store energy for winter. It also helps the lawn green up faster in the spring.

5. Overseed Thin or Bare Spots

Cooler temperatures and consistent moisture make fall the perfect time to overseed your lawn. Adding fresh grass seed helps fill in bald patches and thicken up your turf, reducing weeds next spring.

🧴 Don’t forget: Keep the soil consistently moist for the first couple of weeks to help the seeds germinate.

6. Weed Control Isn’t Over Yet

Many weeds, like dandelions and clover, store up nutrients in the fall to prepare for winter. By staying on top of weeding, it will give your grass a head start in the spring and reduce the number of weeds next season right off the bat. By trusting an expert with weeding and spot spraying, you can ensure that the application of weed control is coordinated with overseeding, as it can prevent new grass from growing too.

7. Water if Needed

Fall often brings rain, but if your area is experiencing a dry spell, keep watering your lawn. Grass still needs about 1 inch of water per week to stay healthy. If you can, be mindful of watering early in the day to prevent mold and mildew, especially as nights get cooler.

Why Trust a Niagara Local Provider with Fall Lawn Care?

Fall lawn care is all about preparation. The effort you put in now will pay off with a thicker, healthier, more resilient lawn come spring. If you're looking for help with your lawn care needs, it's best to work with a local company that knows Niagara's microclimates, soil variations, and seasonal trends. Ron's Lawns is proud to provide lawn care to the Niagara Region for since 1987.

Contact Ron's Lawns, Niagara’s trusted lawn care professionals today for a custom quote or to schedule your seasonal lawn treatment. Let’s grow something great together.

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