Wondering when to plant grass and fertilize your lawn? Fall is the best time. The autumn season comes with a mix of warm soil and cool air, perfect for planting grass seed and allowing time for new grass roots to develop before winter sets in. It is also a good time to fertilize to build stronger, deeper roots for winter, resulting in a thicker, greener lawn next spring.

Depending on your lawn’s condition, here are a few simple ways to take advantage of ideal fall conditions for seeding and feeding.

Repair Bare Spots

Summer brings a lot of activity to your lawn, so by the time fall rolls around, it’s safe to say that it probably has a few bare patches from pets, foot traffic, and kids playing. That’s another reason planting grass in fall is a good idea. It’s easy to give your green space a little TLC by patching up those bare spots.

Using a hand rake or other tool, loosen the top layer of soil to give the new seed a better chance to nestle in and begin to build strong roots. Next, apply Scotts® EZ Seed® over the entire bare spot, following label directions. This combination of high-performance seed, absorbent growing material (to help keep seeds from drying out), and continuous-release fertilizer guarantees grass that will grow anywhere (given to proper care). Just be sure to choose the right seed for your grass type.

Finally, give the newly seeded patch a deep and thorough watering (stop if you see the water start to puddle). In order to keep the seeds hydrated so they can grow to their full potential, the patch will mostly likely need to be watered daily, or whenever EZ Seed® begins to turn light brown. Try to keep kids, pets, and lawn mowers off the newly planted seedlings until they are at least 3 inches high.

Thicken a Thin Lawn

If your cool-season lawn seems thin, fall is a great time to thicken it by overseeding before winter arrives. Scotts® Turf Builder® Thick’R Lawn™ is specially designed to turn weak, thin grass into a thicker, greener lawn. It combines grass seed, fertilizer, and a soil improver into an easy-to-use product that’s applied using a spreader.

To apply, first set your mower to one of its lowest settings so you can cut your grass to a height of 2 inches or less, and bag the clippings. Next, rake the lawn to remove any dead grass and debris and loosen up the upper layer of soil so it will be easier for the product to reach the soil. Fill and adjust the spreader according to the instructions on the product package and apply as directed.

Seed a New Lawn

Seeding a whole new lawn might sound intimidating, but trust us, it’s as easy as can be! Weather and soil conditions—particularly in Northern regions—are ideal when you’re planting in the fall. Scotts® Turf Builder® Rapid Grass truly makes growing grass a breeze. With our revolutionary mix of grass seed and fertilizer in one effective formula, your lawn benefits from extended feeding, resulting in full, green grass. Compared to seed alone, your lawn will grow 2X faster (when applied at the new lawn rate, subject to proper care). Scotts® Turf Builder® Rapid Grass grows green, lush grass in just weeks.

Simply rake the area to loosen the top layer of soil (approximately 2 inches deep) and remove any dead grass or debris, ensuring seed-to-soil contact. Then, apply the product with a Scotts® spreader (please refer to spreader settings on product label). Lightly rake the product into the soil to ensure it is covered just beneath the soil surface. Water daily to keep the soil surface moist until the seedlings reach at least 2 inches tall.

Feed Your Lawn

The difference between a “so-so” lawn and a truly beautiful lawn, both now and next spring, is the one-two punch of a pair of fall feedings. Fertilize your lawn in early fall and again 6 to 8 weeks later with Scotts® Turf Builder® WinterGuard® Fall Weed & Feed. Not only will it help build strong, deep grass roots for a thicker, better lawn come spring, but it also provides nutrients to help repair damage from summer heat, drought, and activity. If you have a St. Augustine, centipede, or zoysiagrass lawn and you’re also battling dollarweed and fire ants, use Scotts® Turf Builder® Southern Triple Action for your first fall feeding. It’s formulated to feed the lawn, plus kill lawn weeds and kill and prevent fire ants. Use a spreader to apply the fertilizer to your lawn on a calm day with very little wind. Be sure to follow label directions.

The dog days are a signal that it’s time for a little turf TLC to keep your lawn looking fine. Just put these summer lawn care tips into action and you’ll be sitting pretty. (Literally. On your lawn. With a frosty drink in hand.)

Early Summer

Mow high. Taller blades help grass develop deeper roots that are better at seeking out water underground. Tall grass also helps to shade soil and cool it, which means you’ll need to water less. (Score!) Continue to mow high all summer long.

Feed. Feeding in the early summer helps strengthen the lawn so it can better withstand the heat and drought conditions that summer is famous for. Scotts® Turf Builder® releases its nutrients slowly over time, making it the go-to fertilizer for all grass types.

In the Midwest, use Scotts® Turf Builder® SummerGuard® Lawn Food with Insect Control, which both kills and protects against listed insect pests like ants or ticks. If you live in the South, use Scotts® Turf Builder® Summer Lawn Food, a lawn food plus water maximizer that helps drive water into dry soils and feeds to build strong, deep roots so even during the heat of summer, you can have a seriously green lawn.

Treat for grubs. If you had a grub problem last year or know that a neighbor is fighting grubs, this is your last chance to fight them this season by applying Scotts® GrubEx®. These pests munch their way through grass roots, resulting in dead patches in late summer. Don’t let ’em win!

Let clippings lie. When you mow, leave the clippings there. They will break down and help to feed your lawn while you’re relaxing on the hammock.

Watch for weeds. Spot-treat any that appear using Ace Broadleaf Spot Weed Killer For Lawns, which kills weeds without harming grass. Take that, dandelions!

Mid Summer

Feed. If temperatures allow keep feeding your lawn every six to eight weeks. For a lush lawn with deep green hue.

Water deeply. Use a screwdriver or small trowel to check how deeply water is penetrating the soil as you water. The goal is to water long enough to reach a depth of 4 to 6 inches. Once you figure out how long it takes to complete the job, go ahead and put that screwdriver away. (Unless you want to carry it around so you look handy. Totally fine if you do.) If you need new hoses or sprinkler visit one of our locations in Carmel, Fishers or Geist or buy online at acehardware.com.

Late Summer & Hot Stretches

Water in the morning. As summer heat builds, your lawn will lose less water to evaporation if you time waterings for between 6 and 10 a.m. Sure, it’s early—but who says you have to do it without an energizing beverage?

Sharpen your mower blade. A dull blade tears grass, creating a ragged edge that loses moisture more readily than a clean cut. That’s not your style.

Work on weeds. Continue to spot-spray weeds using Ace Broadleaf Spot Weed Killer. No way those guys are getting the upper hand!