Fall looks a little different in Central Florida. Although some tree species have leaves that turn seasonal hues of orange and red before dropping, most of our foliage remains green and intact. And instead of experiencing “sweater weather,” we’re enjoying the retreat of triple-digit afternoon temperatures into the much more comfortable 80s. Even so, your yard still needs special attention to keep it healthy now, and ready to thrive again in spring!
Taking the right care and maintenance steps for autumn can help your grass recover from summer stress, fill in patchy areas, and stay attractive throughout the cooler months. Here are some tasks to put on your list!
Aerate and Fertilize for a Healthy Lawn
Aeration can be easy to overlook, especially because Central Florida’s sandy soil does not usually compact easily like denser soils. Still, your lawn can become compacted from foot traffic, pets, lawn equipment or construction activity. When soil becomes too tight, air, water and nutrients have a harder time reaching grass roots. Aeration does two things: It helps loosen compacted grass roots and opens up the ground so it is more receptive to moisture, fertilizer and seed. Aerating the soil as part of your fall lawn maintenance routine will give it a healthier start for the following spring. Our blog post — “Why You Should Aerate Your Lawn” — covers this topic in detail.
Briggs & Stratton recommends starting with moist soil (wait 24 hours after a rainstorm or irrigation). Choose a tool or a machine that removes plugs of soil from the lawn, rather than just making a hole in the ground — which causes the surrounding area of the hole to compact roots and grass even more, thus defeating the purpose of aeration. As most machines and tools only cover a small percentage of soil surface, multiple passes might be necessary. After the plugs have dried, they can be broken up and spread over your lawn. The plugs can be broken up using your lawn mower or by pounding them with the back of a rake.
Central Florida lawns also need fertilizer at the right time. If you aerate your lawn, fertilizing now will help it get the full benefit of aeration. To really optimize the result, have your soil tested to determine the kind of nutrients it needs and the balance of the pH level. This will help you select the appropriate fertilizer that will support the growth of your plants and flowers.
Even if you don’t aerate, October is the last recommended month to fertilize before winter. Depending on your plants, you might need to fertilize more often than once a year, so research the care that your plants need. It’s also important to follow the manufacturer’s directions for use for the best results. Generally, look for a brand that contains a slow release of nitrogen and potassium, and has a nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium ratio of 16-4-8. Slow-release fertilizers provide nutrients over time and reduce the risk of burning the grass.
Time to Perform Seeding and Overseeding
Fall is the time to repair bare and thinning parts of your lawn. Cooler temperatures create conditions for new grass growth, making this an important season for seeding in Central Florida.
Seeding and overseeding are not the same. Seeding is used when your lawn has an area of bare or fresh soil that needs new grass. Overseeding is used on an existing lawn where the grass has become thin. In both cases, the goal is to build a fuller cover.
Before overseeding, aeration can help. Opening the soil gives seeds contact with the ground and brings them closer to the root system, providing the seed-to-soil contact that allows seeds to germinate and sprout. Simply throwing seeds over a patch may not produce the results you want if seeds cannot make good contact with the soil.
Using the right quantity of seed also matters. If a little seed is spread, the grass takes longer to fill in. That leaves space where weeds can take hold. When seeding or overseeding, timing and technique both play a role, so it may be worth getting help if you are unsure which method your lawn needs.
Overseeding can provide other benefits. A thicker lawn can help retain soil moisture, return nutrients to the grass and crowd out weeds. Overseeding a warm‑season lawn with cool‑season grass such as ryegrass can provide a lawn through the cooler part of the year before the temporary grass dies back and the warm‑season grass resumes growth in spring. Our blog post — “What to Do in Fall for Your Central Florida Yard” — covers this topic further.
Head Off Weeds and Insect Pests
Unfortunately, weeds and insect pests never have an “off” season in Central Florida! Fall is a good time to tackle them. When warm‑season grasses slow down, weeds can take advantage of the opportunity. Applying a pre‑emergent and/or herbicide after aeration can prevent their growth. Treatment is most effective when temperatures drop to 60°F or lower for four nights in a row. Should some weeds pop up after the initial application, pull them out by hand.
Insect pests to watch out for include fall armyworms, mole crickets, sod webworms and southern chinch bugs. Brown patches and other discolorations in your lawn can be signs of infestation. Make sure you use specially formulated pesticides for these destructive insects, because the incorrect pesticide can be ineffective and also damage your soil. Call a professional pest control company if you suspect an infestation and don’t feel comfortable handling pesticides yourself.
If you only use eco-friendly pesticides that are non-toxic to humans and animals, our blog post — “Earth Friendly Pesticides” — offers instructions for mixing and applying your own homemade natural ingredient pesticides.
Plant Flowers for End-of-Year Color
One of the numerous advantages of living in Central Florida is that many flowers bloom throughout fall and winter. Some of our favorites here at Daniel’s Lawn Service & Pressure Washing include the following:
Chrysanthemums — better known as mums — are a great choice for traditional seasonal color. These herbaceous perennials can live for years. They produce flowers in a wide variety of shapes and colors. Mums are ideal for mass plantings and cut flowers — as well as a wonderful addition to butterfly gardens.
Firespike is another option for Central Florida landscapes, growing 4 to 6 feet tall and producing clusters of 3-inch-long, tubular red flowers. Its foot-long spikes of showy flowers appear fall through winter. They attract hummingbirds and several species of butterflies. The plant’s height makes it good for the back of a garden bed.
For a low‑growing splash of color, consider marigolds. They work well in borders, containers and mass plantings. Pansies and violas suit cooler weather and can be enjoyed through winter into spring. Snapdragons can be planted in October. They’re available in many colors and sizes, making them useful for borders, groupings, and containers.
Fall is also an ideal time to plant shrubs in Central Florida because warm soil helps roots grow while cooler air cuts down on plant stress. You may want to consider the ornamental camellia, which produces elegant blooms in winter and fall, and can serve several functions in the landscape — including foundation plantings, screens, accent plants, background groupings, and hedges.
Dwarf holly can be a terrific addition to your landscape that proves its worth all year long! This dense, compact shrub grows up to a spread and height of 5–8 feet. ‘Carissa’ and ‘Rotunda’ are two holly cultivars that will take up limited space in your yard. These shrubs can tolerate an extensive range of soil and light conditions. They need minimal pruning and occasional shaping.
Give Your Central Florida Yard a Strong Start for Spring
Providing proper care and maintenance for your yard in fall is an investment that will pay off beautifully in spring! However, we know that you may not be willing or able to put in the time and effort necessary. That’s what we’re here for! Our professionals at Daniel’s Lawn Service & Pressure Washing are true locals with a passion for keeping your Central Florida yard beautiful and healthy!
In addition to lawn care, our full-service company provides landscape design, plant and tree installation, tree trimming, yard maintenance, land clearing, bush hogging, pressure washing and so much more. Contact us today so we can do the work, and you can do the enjoying! We proudly serve all of Central Florida – including Orlando, Sanford, Longwood and Lake Mary! We look forward to helping you achieve your goals and bring your vision to life!
