Lawncare "Order of Operations" this fall - Ask Extension
Hello, I'm a first time homeowner and am looking to improve my small lawn going into next year, and would like to do what I can to prep it well now. I...
Knowledgebase
Lawncare "Order of Operations" this fall #885492
Asked September 16, 2024, 6:05 PM EDT
Hello, I'm a first time homeowner and am looking to improve my small lawn going into next year, and would like to do what I can to prep it well now. I'm a bit confused as to the order of when I should be doing various lawn maintenance items right now (aeration, overseeding, fertilizing). I've been told that it's best to wait 3-4 weeks after fertilizing a yard to overseed it, but realize that my window to overseed the yard is closing soon. Should I skip the Weed and Feed this fall and just aerate and seed now?
I live in Plymouth and have a huge oak tree in our small front yard that keeps most of the yard shaded. The part that is not shaded gets scorched by the sun and is quite dry right now (I do not water the yard regularly). The lawn is fairly patchy, with hard dirt, and has a variety of weeds throughout (creeping charlie, some crabgrass, dandelion, etc.). I applied all-purpose Vigoro fertilizer in the spring, but have not done anything else to the yard this summer apart from regularly mowing it.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hello Nicholas,
Thanks for reaching out! The UMN Extension has a great lawn care calendar that will help guide some of your lawn practices: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/lawn-care-calendar
Another helpful "fall lawn care" article is here: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/fall-lawn-care
Good luck!