Lawn Care in Fall: 8 Essential Tips for a Healthy, Winter-Ready Lawn

Fall lawn care is more than a seasonal chore. It’s the perfect opportunity to protect and prepare your lawn for the cold months ahead. Cooler temperatures, steady moisture and fewer weeds make the fall season ideal for rejuvenating your grass and soil. Done right, fall lawn care helps build strong grass roots and sets the foundation for a healthy turf come spring.

From addressing soil compaction to choosing the right fall fertilizer, here are eight fall lawn care tips that will get your grass winter-ready, and how TruGreen’s expert lawn treatment services can help! 

Soil compaction is one of the biggest obstacles to a healthy lawn. Over time, especially in areas that get a lot of foot traffic, the soil becomes densely packed, making it harder for water, air and nutrients to reach your grass roots. When roots can’t access what they need, your lawn can thin out, become patchy and become more vulnerable to drought, weeds and lawn disease.

Fall is an ideal time to address this issue, especially for cool-season grasses. Aerating your lawn in early fall gives the soil time to recover and allows new roots to establish before winter sets in.

Use a core aerator to remove small plugs of soil from your lawn. This relieves pressure, improves water absorption and creates better contact between the soil and any fertilizer or seed you apply afterward. Focus your efforts on compacted zones, such as near walkways, driveways or play areas.

Core aeration also enhances drainage, prevents runoff and promotes deeper root growth, all of which contribute to a stronger, more resilient lawn that can better withstand winter weather and bounce back beautifully in spring. 

If your cool-season lawn is looking patchy or thin after a long summer, fall is the ideal time to overseed and boost its density. Sparse turf is more susceptible to weed invasion, lawn fungi and pest damage, but overseeding helps fill in those bare spots and promotes a thicker, healthier lawn before winter sets in.

Overseeding is only recommended for cool-season grasses such as Fescue, Ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, which grow most vigorously in the cooler temperatures of early to mid-fall.  

For best results:

• Pair overseeding with core aeration to ensure strong seed-to-soil contact.
• Choose a high-quality grass seed that matches your current turf and growing region.
• Keep the area evenly moist for 2-3 weeks and avoid heavy foot traffic during germination.

This is one of the most effective fall lawn care tips for long-term improvement. Overseeding strengthens your existing lawn, thickens turf to crowd out broadleaf weeds and supports vigorous grass growth through fall and into spring.  

Fertilizing in the fall is one of the smartest things you can do for cool-season grasses. As air temperatures drop and soil stays warm, your lawn shifts its energy from top growth to root development, and the right nutrients can make a big difference.

A fall fertilization supports stronger root systems, thicker turf and better resistance to cold, drought and disease through the winter months.  

When choosing a fertilizer, look for one that is:

• High in potassium because it’s a key ingredient for building strong roots.
• Low in phosphorus, unless a soil test indicates your lawn needs more.
• Formulated specifically for fall and applied about 3-4 weeks before your area’s first expected frost.

Be careful not to over-fertilize, as too much can lead to nutrient runoff and weak, fast-growing grass that’s more prone to damage. The goal is strong, sustained growth from the roots up. 

Fallen leaves don’t have to mean back-breaking yard work. In fact, mulching leaves is one of the easiest and most sustainable ways to return nutrients to your lawn.

1. Use a mulching mower to chop leaves into dime-sized pieces.
2. Spread them evenly, as too many can block sunlight and lead to fungus.
3. Skip raking unless fallen leaves are too thick or wet.

Mulched leaves feed your soil, improve structure and support healthy grass growth.  

Fall is one of the most effective times to control lawn weeds and pests, especially stubborn perennial weeds like dandelions, clover and chickweed. As these plants prepare for winter, they pull nutrients down into their roots, making them more vulnerable to herbicides.

• Spot-treat with selective herbicides that target broadleaf weeds without harming your grass.
• Monitor for pests like grubs, chinch bugs or sod webworms, which can cause significant turf damage if left unchecked.
• Apply treatments before the first hard freeze to maximize effectiveness and prevent infestations from carrying into spring.

Tackling weeds and pests now give your lawn a head start next season with fewer problems and healthier growth.  

The final step in your fall lawn maintenance checklist? Take care of your tools and equipment so they’re ready for spring.

• Clean and dry all tools before storing.
• Drain fuel and oil from mowers and trimmers.
• Sharpen mower blades now, so you’re set for next season.
• Store everything in a dry, covered location.

Need a refresher? Here’s how to winterize your lawn and wrap up your fall season the right way.