Written by: April Mahomoc 08/20/2025
As summer winds down and cooler evenings return to Central Ohio, it’s the perfect time to give your lawn the attention it needs to thrive next spring. September is a power month for lawn care—the soil is still warm, rainfall increases, and your grass is entering peak recovery mode after summer stress.
Here’s your ultimate September lawn care checklist, created by the experts at Lawn Doctor of Greater Columbus, to help you build a thicker, healthier, and more weed-resistant lawn before winter.
✅ 1. Double Pass Aeration: The First Step Toward a Healthier Lawn
Over the summer, your lawn experiences foot traffic, mower compression, and heat—all of which compact the soil. Double Pass aeration relieves that compaction by removing small plugs from your lawn, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots.
Benefits of Double Pass Aeration:
- Stimulates new root growth
- Improves water and fertilizer uptake
- Reduces thatch buildup
- Prepares the lawn for overseeding
📍Local Insight: Central Ohio’s clay-heavy soils especially benefit from fall aeration. It’s one of the most important things you can do for long-term turf health.
✅ 2. Overseeding: Fill In Thin or Bare Patches
Right after aeration is the perfect time to overseed. The holes created during aeration allow seed-to-soil contact, which improves germination.
Why Overseeding Works Best in September:
- Soil temps are warm enough to sprout cool-season grasses
- Cooler nights and increased moisture support new growth
- Gives new grass time to establish before winter
📍Seed Tip: We use premium blends tailored for Ohio lawns like tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, or perennial ryegrass—depending on your lawn’s needs.
✅ 3. Fertilize for Root Strength
Don’t skip your fall feeding! September is the start of the most critical time to fertilize because your grass is storing energy in its roots for the winter.
What Fall Fertilization Does:
- Repairs damage from summer heat
- Promotes deeper root growth
- Prepares the lawn for early spring green-up
📍Pro Tip: Choose a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer designed for fall—or let us customize a blend based on your soil’s pH and nutrient needs.
✅ 4. Tackle Those Weeds (Before They Spread)
Many homeowners think weed control is just for spring, but fall is prime time to eliminate persistent broadleaf weeds like:
- Dandelions
- Clover
- Chickweed
- Plantain
These weeds are still actively growing in September and pulling nutrients into their roots—making herbicide applications highly effective.
📍Timing Tip: Apply post-emergent weed control between mid-September and mid-October for best results.
✅ 5. Mow Strategically
Keep mowing your lawn through the fall, but lower your mower height slightly in September—around 2.5–3 inches. This:
- Prevents disease from overly long grass blades
- Reduces leaf matting when fall leaves arrive
- Helps sunlight reach the crown of the grass
🚫 Don’t scalp it—just aim for one notch lower than your summer height.
✅ 6. Water If Needed
While September often brings more rainfall than July or August, don’t assume it’s enough. Your lawn needs about 1 inch of water per week, especially when new seeds are germinating.
💧 Water early in the day to reduce evaporation and disease risk.
🌟 Why Choose Lawn Doctor of Greater Columbus?
We don’t believe in cookie-cutter treatments. Every lawn is different—and we build custom lawn care programs based on your soil, grass type, and neighborhood conditions. Whether you need a full fall recovery program or just targeted aeration and seeding, we’re here to help.
👉 Ready for your fall lawn care quote?
Our Fall Lawn Care 2025 program is filling up quickly—and once we hit capacity, we can’t take additional lawns this season.
👉 Don’t wait—sign up now to reserve your spot:
Click here to enroll in Fall Lawn Care 2025
