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Fertilization is very important to a strong, healthy lawn. While most people focus on fertilizing their lawn in the spring and summer, many are surprised to learn that fall is actually the best and most important time of year to fertilize your lawn.

Fall fertilizer treatments strengthen your lawn’s foundation by providing it with fuel to survive the cold winter months. This boost in nutrition helps sustain your lawn and encourages faster recovery after dormancy. Here is how fall fertilizer treatments benefit your lawn in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and the surrounding areas.

Fall’s Cooler Temperatures Help Your Lawn Absorb Nutrients

Fall is the by far the most important time of year to fertilize your lawn. Fertilizing in spring and summer promotes growth and renewal, but fall fertilization provides your lawn with all the nutrients it needs to survive the winter. Along with cooler temperatures, autumn brings more moisture which is needed for optimum nutrient absorption. More nutrient absorption is paramount to sustaining your lawn throughout the winter and ensuring it has the energy reserves needed to return strong and vibrant in the spring.

Fertilizing in Fall Prepares Your Lawn for the Winter

Fall fertilizer, also known as winterizer, does not encourage growth like its spring and summer counterparts, but rather provides food for your lawn’s dormancy cycle. Winterizer provides food and nutrients for your lawn so ...

Routine lawn care is the key to a healthy, beautiful lawn. Certain services, such as aeration and overseeding, are highly beneficial and when applied during the fall, help prepare your lawn for the upcoming winter months. Aeration provides grass roots with greater access to nutrients they need to last the winter and grow strong and healthy when the spring returns.

Here is why your lawn needs aeration and overseeding in the fall in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and the surrounding areas.

Increases Your Lawn’s Health & Prepares it for the Winter

Aerating and overseeding your lawn in the fall promotes its health and prepares it for the upcoming winter months. In order for your lawn to survive the harsh winter and return full and strong in the spring, it needs to be at its best, and aeration and overseeding ensure your lawn has the necessary nutrients and seeds needed to do just that.

Over time your soil becomes compacted due to foot traffic and weather, inhibiting the flow of nutrients to your lawn’s roots. When your grass doesn’t get the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy, it weakens and becomes more susceptible to pests, diseases, and the harsh winter weather. A healthy lawn can withstand the cold and elements much better than a weak, nutrient-deficient lawn. Provided with proper aeration and overseeding, your lawn will return in the spring thick, green, and healthy.

Helps Seeds Germinate When Spring ...

No one wants to walk out and see a brown patch developing in their lawn, especially when they have invested a lot of money into making sure their grass looks green and healthy.

There are many reasons why your lawn could have a brown patch, including fungal disease, improper watering, or insect infestation. If you live in central Iowa areas such as Des Moines, West Des Moines, or Ankeny, then take a look to see what could be causing your lawn’s brown patch.

Fungal Diseases Can Cause Brown Patches, Dead Grass

Many fungal diseases can spring up under moist conditions and spread quickly. One common disease is actually called brown patch disease. It begins to form at temperatures in the 60s but really begins to show once temperatures climb into the 80s. The patches show up as circular brown areas with an outer darker brown ring.

The patches can be just a few inches or several feet wide, and the affected grass ends up dying. Preventing these diseases requires regular fertilizer treatments along with making sure your lawn is being watered at proper times. If these don’t work, then your lawn will need fungicide treatments applied to it to control this disease.

Improper Watering Leads to Imbalance of Grass Growth

When irrigation systems aren’t set up with the correct zones and timing, it can cause some areas of your lawn to not get the water they need to grow. If your grass isn’t getting the right amount of water, it can ...

If you are looking to revitalize your landscaping at your residential or commercial property in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and other nearby central Iowa areas, there are many ways to do this.

You can add new retaining walls, redo the beds completely, replenish mulch, or if you’re looking for something simpler, consider planting annual flowers in your landscaping beds.

Here are some reasons why adding annual flowers benefits your lawn and landscaping.

The Differences Between Annuals and Perennials

Annual flowers are defined as annual because they only bloom once during their life cycle, while perennials bloom multiple times during their life. Annuals usually bloom much longer than perennials, which means your landscaping has longer-lasting color that is more vibrant. Many also will drop seeds, which gives the potential for new plants to grow the next year.

If you’re looking to have immediate color, then annuals are the best choice. Perennials often take a year or so to begin blooming and are just green leaves until then, leaving your landscaping without much color.

Perennials also tend to require more maintenance than annuals—they will need to be trimmed and pruned at specific times of the year, will need fertilizer, and the soil where they’re planted will need to be prepared more.

Annuals have more color choices than some perennials do and produce more colorful, brighter blooms in order to bring in...

Does your lawn look slightly grayish or dull? If that’s the case, then it needs more water and that’s its way of showing it. Even if a lawn is well-fertilized, mowed properly, and treated for pests, there are still other factors that can affect the health of your grass.

One of these factors is how your lawn is watered. By installing a proper irrigation system, you can create a better quality lawn while saving money on your water bill. Here are three reasons why having a proper irrigation system in place is essential.

#1: Conserve Water and Save on Your Water Bill

Many homeowners are overwatering their lawns and don’t even know it. By using too much water, you can end up wasting it and spending more on your water bill.

Water requirements do vary by grass type and season, as well as wind and shade factors. Another factor when watering a lawn is timing. It’s considered best to not try to water a lawn in the heat of the day, as water will evaporate much more quickly at that point. Watering in the morning is best as it’s cooler.

When you have a proper irrigation system installed by certified contractors like A+ Lawn & Landscape, you can feel safe knowing that your lawn is getting the right amount of water it needs. We take into account all variables when we design your irrigation system.

#2: Avoid Uneven Growth & Standing Water

In Central Iowa, we see all kinds of weather during the year, from snowy mornings to blazing summer afternoons.

Through all of that, your lawn and plants are exposed to extreme weather changes as well as other threats like weeds and insects. That’s why you need an expert crew like A+ Lawn & Landscape who knows the area and can help you cultivate a lawn that will stay healthy and vibrant all year long.

When Your Lawn Should Be Fertilized

Fertilizer helps to fortify your grass and plants while providing the nutrients they need to thrive. Having a regular fertilizer schedule gives your lawn a chance to be as healthy as possible.

It’s recommended to have your soil tested in order to determine which nutrients are lacking and then have someone create a fertilizer based off of those results.

During the year, we provide six treatments with custom-blended fertilizer. For optimal health, these treatments should start around early spring and continue every 5-7 weeks through October.

Why Weed Control Is Important

One of the biggest threats to your lawn’s health is weeds. Weeds are pesky and steal those much-needed nutrients from your grass and plants. By using pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control, we can work to help your lawn stay virtually yard-free.

Weed control treatments should begin in early spring with a...

You know it’s necessary to perform maintenance on the interior of your home such as regular carpet cleaning or dusting the baseboards. But did you know your lawn requires a regular maintenance schedule too?

There are many aspects to maintaining a healthy lawn in areas like Des Moines, West Des Moines, or Ankeny, IA, but one of the most important things you can do for your lawn is to establish a fertilizing routine.

The Benefits of Fertilizing Your Lawn

If you want a worry-free lawn that you can be proud of, then fertilizer is key to getting you there. A well-nourished lawn means you have lush grass where you can walk barefoot, have picnics, and enjoy your outdoor space. Regular fertilizer treatments give your lawn the nutrients it craves.

Still not convinced? A healthy lawn means your grass has more strength to stand up to weeds and combat the heat of that Central Iowa summer sun beating down on it.

What Happens if You Don’t Fertilize Your Lawn

Fertilizer works to fight nutrient imbalance in your soil. If you have areas that are imbalanced, you could end up with patchy brown areas in your lawn. You may also see more weeds pop up, since your grass won’t be as strong to fight them off and keep them away.

If you want a beautiful, bright green lawn, then fertilizing your grass is...

It’s time to start getting ready for your spring lawn care!

Pre-pay letters are in the works, be sure to watch for them in the mail! Pre-paying is a great way to save money as we offer a discount when you pay for your lawn care services with one easy payment.

You can save even more money by taking advantage of our suggested upgrades!