Spring/Fall Cleanups

In Minnesota, we can usually expect fall to come at the end of September or beginning of October. Fall freeze dates can start as early as September 22, which means the air temperatures drop to 32 degrees F. Snowfall in Minnesota can be expected as early as October. It is important to know how and when to take care of your lawn during all seasons.

As fall approaches, many people stop their lawn care regimens. But fall is the best time for lawn care and there is a lot of work that needs to be done to prepare your lawn for the long winter.

Our Fall Cleanup Service begins first week of October. As we transition to the Fall Season, leaves will start to cover lawns. To keep your lawn looking its best we will be continuing a weekly schedule for the first 3 weeks of October. Any fallen leaves will be mulched into the turf or collected.

One final clean-up will then be completed between the second to last week of October and the end of November to collect any remaining leaves before winter . Should the clean-up not be completed before the first snowfall, your clean-up will carry over to the following spring. Service includes:

• Removal of leaves, sticks, and other natural debris from lawn and landscapes.
• Dethatching the lawn with power blowers or rakes.
• Final winterizing mow.

Keeping short grass before winter comes is also known to reduce vole damage to your plants. They are less likely to nest in the short grass where they are more visible to predators.

Fall is a great time to aerate your lawn. Aeration is a mechanical process that involves pulling out soil cores to reduce soil compaction and allow for air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. Aerating your lawn helps the grass roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, healthier lawn and provides better seed-to-soil contact when combined with overseeding.

The optimal time for aeration is late August to mid October because most weeds are not actively germinating. Spring is the second best time for aerating your lawn, but you may encounter more weed pressure as weed seeds are exposed to light.