Lawn Management: Fall Prep and Winter Care

The months between August and Thanksgiving are the perfect time to do some quick—and essential—lawn chores.

The rule of thumb for northern lawn-owners is to mow until the grass stops growing, which usually happens in late October through November.encierro/Shutterstock

As fall rolls around, heat and drought have taken their toll on most lawns. Lower temperatures and rainy days provide some relief, but with winter just around the corner, many homeowners ask themselves, “Why should I worry about my lawn now?”

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but northerners, southerners, and those in the transition zone (more on that in a minute) need to get out the fertilizer, weed and feed, rake, mower, and, in some cases, dethatcher.