Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Fall landscape

Wow! A few days ago, it was in the high 80’s. Now, it’s 65 with lows in the 50’s! Fall is definitely here. Of course, there will be more days in the 80’s (that’s Chicago for you), but we need to get our landscape moving towards cooler weather. 

This is the best time to plant grass seed. It will have time to get established before winter and the cooler temperatures will have it thriving. 

Add some topsoil to the lawn to encourage the seed growth and help the old lawn to recover from some of the summer heat. Spread the soil out as evenly as you can and work it in with the back of a rake. Throw out more seed than you think you’ll need, because half of it will end up as bird food. Water it well and moisten every day until it germinates. This usually takes 7 days but can also take up to 14. 

It’s wise to start fertilizing now. Choose a fertilizer that is good for root development, not weed control. Weed control fertilizers can prevent your grass from germinating. Fertilizers are graded according to the ratio of nutrients. The three nutrients are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Look for a higher middle number on the fertilizer. That’s phosphorus and encourages root growth. Use a granular fertilizer as it will release over time. 

It’s also the best time for tree and shrub planting! Again, they will have time to establish. Follow  planting and mulching instructions closely. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep mulch away from the trunks and stems. They need to breathe, and too much mulch too close can encourage insects and vermin. Water, water, water! Do so until the ground freezes. The best way to do this is to let an open hose trickle a foot or so away from the trunk. Let it go at least an hour and do this twice a week until the ground freezes. 

As the garden plants are spent, remove them, don’t compost them. They may have diseases or insects that you are not aware of and it’s better to not take a chance. Smooth out the soil and add compost. We use mushroom compost, and it seems to work well. Lay down half of the compost and work it into the soil. Spread the other half over the top to discourage any weed seeds from germinating. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago