Most Maryland lawns are cool-season grasses like tall fescue. They grow strongest in the cool, moist weather of fall, which makes it the most important season of the year for lawn care. What you do now decides how your lawn looks next spring.
Early fall (late August to September)
- Aerate. Core aeration relieves compacted clay soil and opens the ground for seed. See aeration and overseeding.
- Overseed. Warm soil and cool air are ideal for new grass to germinate and establish before winter.
- Water new seed. Light, frequent watering until it's established.
Mid fall (October)
- Keep mowing. Grass keeps growing into the fall. Stay at about 3 to 4 inches for tall fescue and don't cut off more than a third of the blade.
- Stay ahead of leaves. A light layer can be mulched into the lawn with the mower. Heavy cover needs to come off before it mats down.
Late fall (November to early December)
- Full leaf cleanup. Clear leaves from lawns and beds before winter. Matted leaves smother grass and lead to dead patches. See fall cleanup and leaf removal.
- Final mow. A last cut at a normal height helps the lawn go into winter tidy without being scalped.
- Cut back perennials as appropriate and clean out beds.
Don't forget to look up
With the leaves down, it's the best time of year to spot dead limbs, cracks and hanging branches in your trees before winter storms and ice. If something looks wrong, get an arborist's opinion.
Want it handled?
Goliath handles mowing, fall cleanups and aeration and overseeding across Harford and Baltimore County. Call or text 443-619-9161.
Need a hand?
Fall Cleanup & Leaf Removal from Goliath
Leaves, beds and debris cleared so your lawn makes it through winter. Free on-site estimates across Harford and Baltimore County.