When the maples around Danbury and Candlewood Lake start to turn, most people assume the yard work is winding down. For Connecticut lawns and gardens, the opposite is true. Cool fall weather is when grass roots grow strongest and new plantings settle in best, which makes October and November some of the most valuable weeks of the year for a healthy yard next spring.
Why Fall Matters for Connecticut Lawns
Most Connecticut lawns are made up of cool-season grasses, which grow most actively in spring and fall. After the stress of summer heat, autumn gives grass a chance to recover and store energy in its roots before winter. Late summer into early fall is ideal for reseeding thin or bare areas, and UConn's Home and Garden Education Center points to fall as one of the most important times to fertilize. Lawn fertilizers sold in Connecticut are phosphorus-free under a 2013 state law, so a soil test is the best way to learn what your lawn actually needs.
Test Your Soil Before You Feed It
A soil test shows pH and nutrient levels so you apply only what your lawn and gardens need. The UConn Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory processes samples from homeowners across the...
