Lawn Care Tips for Fall

As much as we love the cooler weather and beautiful colors that come with fall, the effects of falling leaves can really impact flood control across Valley Ranch. A yard of colorful autumn leaves may look festive, but those leaves can get washed into drainage systems and cause flooding if not properly collected.

As you prepare your yard for the cooler weather, keep in mind the following best practices:

  • Take care of fallen leaves – Leaves can clog storm drains and gutters, affecting flood control throughout our community. If your yard begins to collect fallen leaves, the City of Irving asks that you either mow or mulch them and spread them across your lawn and flower beds. Try to only use composting as a last resort. Don’t blow leaves into the street, as they’ll end up in gutters and storm drains!
  • Remove weeds and dead shrubs – According to Texas A&M AgriLife, weeds are their weakest and most vulnerable during winter. As the temperatures cool, take the opportunity to remove weeds from your yard. In addition to improving the appearance of your yard, removing dead shrubs and weeds will help your grass and landscaping spring back after winter.
  • Add fertilizer – After an extra-warm summer, your yard may have seen better days! To prevent standing water or flooding in your yard, experts say to apply fertilizer now and then once more in six to eight weeks to maintain your lawn until spring. Remember, dead grass and cracked dirt don’t absorb water as well as a luscious, green lawn.
  • Mow with care – Experts recommend cutting your grass shorter to help it withstand the cooler weather. Continue mowing until the onset of winter but avoid cutting the grass shorter than two inches.

Maintaining your lawn doesn’t just give you beautiful curb appeal, it also helps prevent excess leaves from clogging gutters and drainage systems, in turn helping the flood control system throughout Valley Ranch to work properly. As you care for your lawn this fall, we thank you for following best practices and contributing to our delivery of flood control across Valley Ranch. To learn more about IFCD 3 and our mission to deliver flood control to Valley Ranch, explore the rest of our website, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

(Photo by Lynda Grasso on Unsplash)

Irving Flood Control District III