Lots of people think that their family yards need less attention in the fall, but autumn is no time to ignore the lawn and landscape.

“What homeowners do now will determine the quality of the family yard next spring and summer,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), the international trade association representing more than 100 power equipment, engine and utility vehicle manufacturers and suppliers.

“Every gardener knows to plant bulbs in the fall, but autumn is also the time to mow, mulch, aerate, trim and patch the lawn,” said Kiser. He offers the following tips to help get the yard into top shape this fall and ready for more relaxing and fun outdoor activities next year.

Keep mowing

Grass still needs regular care to stay healthy. Grass that is too high may attract lawn-damaging field mice. Shorter grass is more resistant to diseases and traps fewer falling leaves. Cutting the grass low also allows more sun to reach the crown of the grass, so less will turn brown in the winter.

However, cutting off too much at one time can be damaging, so never trim more than a third of the grass blades off in a single cutting. Put mower blades on the lowest settings for the last two cuts of the season.

Aerate the lawn  

Compressed soil hurts grass health. Aerating punches holes into the soil and lets oxygen, water and nutrients into a lawn. Use a walk-behind aerator or get an attachment to pull behind a riding mower.

Mulch the leaves  

Many mowers can mulch leaves with an attachment. Since mulching with a mower can mix grass clippings with leaf particles, these nitrogen-rich grass particles and carbon-rich leaf particles will compost more quickly. Together, they return nutrients to
the soil.

Trim and shore up trees and bushes 

Use trimmers, chainsaws or pole pruners to cut back trees, shrubs and plants. Make sure branches are safely trimmed back from overhead lines, and not in danger of falling on a structure in winter weather.

Homeowners may need to tie or brace limbs of upright evergreens or plants to prevent them from breaking in high winds or snow. Call a professional arborist for big trees or hard to reach spots.

Repair bald spots 

Fall is a great time to patch bald or thin spots in a lawn. The easiest way to do this is with an all-in-one lawn repair mixture (found at most garden shops and home centers). Use a garden rake or de-thatcher to scratch loose the soil on the spot.

Kiser also added it is important to follow safety procedures whenever using outdoor power equipment. Read the owner’s manual.

The manual will describe the individual requirements for the particular machine, and will provide directions on which fuels may be appropriate for the product. Fuels containing more than ten percent ethanol should not be used unless directed in the owner’s manual.

He said, “Homeowners will also want to service and winterize their lawn mower, string trimmer, leaf blower, and other outdoor power equipment.” And, remember, most gas-fueled outdoor power equipment is warranted and designed to run on E10 (10% ethanol) fuel or less.

There are fuel options available today that should not be used in outdoor power equipment. Remember ‘look before pumping.’ And, make sure to drain the fuel tank before storing equipment for the winter. Dispose safely of any fuel that is more than 30 days old.

“Winterization is important for outdoor power equipment. When everything is growing again in the spring and a person can see how all of their hard fall lawn work has paid off, the last thing they will want to deal with is a malfunctioning mower,”
said Kiser.