Fall Lawn Care Guide for Homeowners in Melbourne, Florida
Fall in Florida may not bring the dramatic weather changes seen in other parts of the country, but it’s still an important time to take care of your lawn. With milder temperatures and the possibility of heavy rains, fall is a great time to prepare your yard for the cooler months ahead. Here are some key tips to keep your lawn healthy and looking its best this season.
Keep Mowing, but Adjust the Height
Even though the growing season is slowing down, you still need to mow your lawn regularly. For warm-season grasses like St. Augustine, Zoysia, or Bermuda, adjust your mower blade to a slightly higher setting in the fall. This allows your grass to develop deeper roots and better withstand cooler weather.
- Tip: Mow your lawn to a height of about 3-4 inches for St. Augustine grass and 1.5-2 inches for Bermuda grass.
Fertilize to Strengthen Your Lawn
Fall is an excellent time to fertilize your lawn in Melbourne. Applying fertilizer helps your grass recover from the summer heat and prepare for winter. Choose a slow-release fertilizer with the right balance of nitrogen and potassium to encourage root growth and boost your lawn’s overall strength.
- Tip: Look for a fertilizer that’s designed for Florida lawns and apply it according to the package instructions, usually around early October.
How to Water Your Lawn
Even though fall may bring more rainfall, you still need to monitor your lawn’s water needs. Warm-season grasses in Florida typically need about 1 inch of water per week, whether it’s from rain or irrigation. Be careful not to overwater, as excess moisture can lead to fungal issues.
- Tip: Water your lawn in the early morning to avoid evaporation during the afternoon and reduce the risk of disease by watering in the evening.
Control Weeds with Pre-emergent Herbicide
Fall is the perfect time to apply pre-emergent herbicide to prevent winter weeds like crabgrass and chickweed from taking over your lawn. Applying pre-emergent early in the fall helps stop weed seeds from germinating.
- Tip: Apply the pre-emergent when soil temperatures drop below 70°F, usually in mid-to-late October in Melbourne.
Fall Lawn Aeration for Better Soil Health
If your lawn has compacted soil, fall is a great time to aerate. Aeration helps improve water and nutrient absorption by creating small holes in the soil, allowing your grass roots to breathe and grow stronger. Pearce Lawn Care offers both liquid and core aeration to better meet your specific needs. Both options are very effective in alleviating compaction and helping your lawn recover from summer.
- Tip: Water the lawn before core aeration to allow the aerator machine to pull better plugs of soil from your lawn!
Adding Root Fuel to Your Fall Lawn Care
Root Fuel is a new fall service that Peace Lawn Care is excited to now offer to homeowners in Central Florida. This product contains cobalt and manganese and is designed to nourish your lawn from the ground up, delivering critical nutrients to the root system. It helps enhance color, support photosynthesis, and healthy grass growth. These nutrients work to enhance microbial activity in the soil, providing energy to roots that may otherwise be stressed during the fall months. Contact us today to get a quote for root fuel and give your Florida lawn a fall boost.
Professional Fall Lawn Care Services with Pearce
In Florida, fall is the perfect time to give your lawn some extra care to help it thrive during the cooler months. With Pearce Lawn Care, we know Florida lawns and what they need to thrive in every season. We have years of experience offering Florida lawn care services, tree and shrub care, lawn pest control, aeration, and more. Our service area covers Melbourne, Viera, Palm Bay, Malabar, Indian Harbour Beach, Grant-Valkaria, Indialantic, Satellite Beach, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for a free quote!