Essential Fall Lawn Care Tips For Minnesota Homeowners

The brightly-colored fall landscape across Minnesota is starting to fade as the leaves fall, and while much of the state is getting ready for a long winter's nap, there are a few things you can do now for a great lawn next year!

Having a pristine lawn is one of those things that many Minnesotans take great pride in. I, however, would not be one of them. While I would love for our lawn to look the 18th green at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, the reality is that our three dogs-- who use our backyard to take care of business-- make that a tough challenge.

As one landscaper once told me, "You can have a nice lawn, or you can have dogs. You can't have both." Now, while I'm not sure that's entirely true, even I have done some of the following lawn care items in the fall to help give our lawn a head start on next year.

4 Simple Fall Lawn Care Tips Minnesotans Can Do Right Now

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According to the University of Minnesota Extension, there are five things you can do right now in Minnesota to help your lawn grow lush and green in 2026:

1) Mow your lawn a little shorter.

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The U of M says that by mowing your lawn a little shorter (take those wheels on your mower down a place or two), it makes collecting tree leaf litter easier, helps reduce the risk of snow mold diseases, and can reduces damage from burrowing rodents like voles.

2) Clean up that tree leaf litter.

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The U of M says that while raking is the most common way to get rid of those leaves, it's actually better for your lawn if you mulch the leaves with a mower. This process essentially chops the leaves into small pieces, which remain on your lawn adding extra nutrients and organic matter that will benefit your lawn and soil.

Why Fall Is the Best Time to Prepare Your Lawn for Spring

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3. Try Some Dormant Seeding.

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The U of M says this practice applying extra seed to your lawn now, knowing that it will not germinate until next spring, when soil temperatures have increased. Doing this step usually involved waiting until early to mid-November, meaning it's perfect to try now.

4. Apply a winterizing fertilizer.

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The U of M says that applying a winterizer fertilizers, which are marketed and sold in the late fall at home improvement stores across the state, can help your lawn prepare for the winter. However, if soil temperatures get too cool, this step won't be as useful.

Don’t Wait—Your Minnesota Lawn Depends on It

This LawnStarter Fall Lawn Checklist has a more in-depth list of items you can also do to your lawn and around your home to give your lawn an even better chance to make it through the winter and be lush and green again next spring.

Of course, all of these steps are things you'll need to take care of before the first snowflakes fall-- which could be as soon as this weekend, if the forecast for parts of Minnesota is accurate!