Maintaining a healthy lawn in Highland Illinois requires a strategic approach to fertilization and weed control for recommended seasonal lawn care. The key is timing your applications to work with the natural growth cycles of your grass in Madison County. Most lawns in Highland, Illinois contain cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass and fescue, which thrive in cooler temperatures.
Fall is arguably the most important for Highland seasonal lawn care. The cooler temperatures and increased rainfall are perfect for root development. In September, apply a well-balanced fertilizer with a high nitrogen content. This application helps the lawn recover from summer stress and build a strong root system before winter. This is also the best time to apply a post-emergent herbicide for perennial broadleaf weeds like clover and thistle. The weeds are actively growing and will transport the herbicide to their roots, ensuring a more effective kill.
As you move into October, your lawn care strategy should shift to preparing the turf for the upcoming winter. This is an excellent time for core aeration, a process that involves pulling small plugs of soil from your lawn. Aeration reduces soil compaction, which allows water, air, and nutrients to penetrate the root zone more effectively. Following aeration, you can overseed any thin or bare spots. Spreading a cool-season grass seed mix, particularly a fescue blend, will help thicken your lawn and improve its overall health and appearance. The new seeds will have a chance to germinate and establish themselves before the first hard frost.
In addition to aeration and overseeding, consider a final fertilizer application in late October or early November. This “winterizer” fertilizer should be high in potassium to promote root health and improve the grass’s ability to withstand freezing temperatures and winter dormancy. This last feeding provides the grass with the necessary carbohydrates to survive the winter and green up quickly in the spring. Raking leaves is also a critical task in October. A thick layer of leaves can smother the grass, block sunlight, and lead to fungal diseases like snow mold. Regularly raking or mulching the leaves will help your lawn breathe and stay healthy.
The best way to manage these seasons should include a six-step process from T’s Turf and Mole servicing Highland, Illinois, the greater Highland area, and Madison County. T’s Turf and Mole is a superior lawn service company with membership in the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA) now known as Landscape Illinois. and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Find out more by navigating here, and requesting more information.
