Want to have the best yard on the block?  To ensure a healthy lawn there’s 3 simple steps to follow in the fall, but paying close attention to how you do the steps better than everyone else is the key! For most of the country(northern half) this pertains to you. The southern part of the country tends to have Bermuda grass which requires different maintenance.

3 Most Important Tips:

1. Aeration-Do this the first of September for zone 6 (see zone map here) to figure out which zone you are in. Aeration is important because this reduces compaction, thatch, and supplies oxygen to the roots. The key is to make as many holes as possible, because when you seed, you’ll have new grass in each hole.  This will help you to have a more dense lawn.  The more dense the fewer weeks you’re likely to have
2. Seed and fertilize-look for a 90/10 fescue/bluegrass blend. Apply this at about 5lbs of seed per 1000 square feet with a fertilizer spreader.  Top this off with a good starter fertilizer which will have a typical ratio of 18-24-12.  This is a good option as well as this one.
3.  Water– light and frequently until seed germination(every couple of hours, approx 7 days). After this, slowly move towards a deep infrequent water schedule.  This will establish a healthy root system