· Ortiz Landscaping & Tree Services
Summer gets the attention, but for the cool-season grasses in most New Jersey lawns, fall is when the real progress happens. The grass is recovering from summer stress and growing roots, and the weather finally cooperates.
Seed thin areas early
Late summer into early fall is the best seeding window of the year. The earlier in that window, the more time new grass has to establish before cold weather. See the best time to seed a lawn in New Jersey for the details.
Keep up with leaves
A light scattering of leaves can be mulched into the lawn with the mower. A thick layer is different: it blocks light, traps moisture and can leave dead patches by spring. Regular removal through the season is easier than one massive clean-up at the end.
Keep mowing
Grass keeps growing into late fall. Continue mowing at a normal height, then make the final cut of the year slightly shorter to reduce matting under snow.
Feed the soil
Fall is a good time for top dressing with compost, especially on lawns being overseeded. It adds organic matter where roots are actively growing.
Beds and trees
Clean up spent annuals and diseased plant material. A layer of mulch helps protect roots from freeze and thaw cycles. Once leaves drop, tree structure is easy to see, which makes late fall a practical time to plan trimming.
Fall is one of our busiest seasons for seeding and planting, top soil dressing and lawn maintenance. Call (609) 454-7355 or request a free quote to plan your fall work.