November brings fallen leaves, cooler temperatures, and less mowing across Southern lawns. But even as your lawn-care routine slows down, a little fall cleanup can help discourage unwanted pests from taking shelter in your yard.
Lawn pests like chinch bugs and sod webworms overwinter in thatch layers or soil. Removing debris, managing moisture, and monitoring your grass can help maintain a healthier lawn through winter. Here are six things to focus on this month.
• Keep fallen leaves from becoming a blanket
Thick, wet leaves block sunlight and trap moisture against the grass. Remove heavy leaf cover regularly, especially from newly installed sod and areas with poor drainage. Keeping leaves under control also makes it easier to spot thinning grass or other changes that may need attention.
• Clear out potential hiding places
Piles of fallen branches, rotting wood, and dead plant debris can provide shelter for insects and other pests. Include lawn edges, fence lines, and areas around sheds in your fall cleanup. Pay particular attention to damp corners where debris can accumulate unnoticed.
• Check for standing water
Empty buckets, plant saucers, and other containers that collect rainwater. These small pockets of water can provide mosquito breeding sites when temperatures are suitable. If water repeatedly pools in your lawn, investigate possible drainage or irrigation issues.
• Adjust watering to current conditions
Cooler weather often means slower drying and lower watering needs. Check rainfall and soil moisture before running irrigation instead of continuing your summer schedule. Fresh sod still needs attentive watering while establishing, but the goal is adequate moisture without consistently soggy soil. When watering is needed, early morning is generally best.
• Let your lawn tell you when mowing is done
By November, many Bermuda and zoysia lawns across Georgia grow very little or enter dormancy. Mow only as needed while growth continues, maintaining the recommended height for your grass variety. Once growth stops, regular mowing can stop too. Continue clearing fallen leaves, and avoid cutting the grass unusually short before winter.
Fescue and other cool-season lawns may still need mowing as cooler weather supports their growth.
• Identify problems before treating them
Discolored or thinning grass can result from insects, disease, or moisture problems.
Read more about preventing pests like chinch bugs and sod webworms this season here.
You don’t need to treat every lawn for insects simply because fall has arrived. Start by removing potential hiding places, managing standing water, and maintaining appropriate lawn-care practices. Let your property’s conditions guide any additional action.
NG Turf’s Certified Turf Professionals can help you compare sod varieties and understand seasonal lawn-care needs. Call 770-832-8608 for guidance on your next lawn project.
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