Things You'll Need:
- De-thatching tool
- Lawn mower or tractor with bagger
- Aerator
- Grass seed
- Spreader
- Fertilizer
- Rake
- Water
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Step 1
De-thatch to remove dead grass and debris from your lawn. This provides better access to water and sunlight after the heat of summer. Cut your grass at or near the lowest setting before de-thatching. Be careful not to "scalp" the lawn, exposing soil, when you de-thatch.
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Step 2
Aerate your lawn. Aerating, or poking holes in your lawn, helps loosen the soil, and allows water to reach the roots more quickly.
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Step 3
Over-seed your lawn. Over-seeding is the process of spreading new grass seed over desired areas of the lawn with a spreader. Over-seed when lawns are uneven because of grass type or thickness.
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Step 4
Fertilize your lawn with a late fall fertilizer to care for it. Use a starter fertilizer or another fertilizer that is safe for seed if you are over-seeding.
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Step 1
Clean up winter debris, leaves and twigs from the lawn.
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Step 2
Fertilize with the appropriate first application fertilizer between the first blooms of the forsythia and before the first blooms of the lilac.
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Step 3
Mow the grass regularly, as much as twice a week, especially if you mulch.
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Step 1
Cut the grass a bit higher in summer to retain moisture.
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Step 2
Spread a fertilizer that has high potassium content in the summer application in order to help the grass retain water. Compare products to determine which has the highest potassium content.
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Step 3
Apply fertilizer about every 6 weeks after the first application in the spring.
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Step 4
Water and more water. Of course make sure the lawn gets adequate moisture throughout this process in fall, spring and summer. About 20 minutes of watering every other day, depending on rainfall, should be adequate. Experts recommend about 1 inch of water per week.
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Step 5
Take a break--it's winter!
