🌾 How to Help Your Lawn Recover From Drought and Prep for Winter

If your grass looks tired, dry, or a little patchy right now, you’re not alone. The late-summer heat and lack of rain in Mechanicsburg have been rough on lawns this year. Even healthy grass starts to struggle when the ground hardens up and there’s not enough moisture to go around.

The good news is: fall is the best time to help your lawn bounce back and get it ready for next spring.

💧 1. Don’t Overwater All at Once

When we finally get rain again, or you turn the sprinklers on, resist the urge to soak the lawn all at once. Instead, water deeply but less often, about 1 inch per week. This encourages the roots to grow deeper rather than sitting at the surface.

🌱 2. Aeration and Overseeding Make a Big Difference

If your grass looks thin or patchy, aeration and overseeding are your best friends. Aeration loosens up compacted soil and lets water, air, and nutrients reach the roots. Overseeding fills in bare spots and thickens your turf, making it more resilient when next summer rolls around.

Even though you might not see results right away, the work you put in now pays off big-time next spring when your lawn greens up faster and looks thicker than ever.

🍂 3. Keep Mowing (Just a Little Higher)

As we move into cooler weather, keep mowing, just not as short. Keeping your grass around 3.5 inches tall helps protect it from cold temperatures and prevents roots from drying out.

🌾 4. Don’t Skip Fall Fertilization

Fertilizing in the fall helps rebuild what summer took away. The nutrients you put down now go straight to the roots, strengthening your lawn before it goes dormant for winter. It’s one of the most important steps for long-term health and color.

🧤 5. Prep for Next Spring Now

The lawns that look the best in spring aren’t lucky, they’re prepared. Fall cleanup, trimming, aeration, and fertilization all work together to protect your grass over the winter and set it up for strong growth next year.

If your lawn struggled this summer, don’t wait until next spring to fix it. The work you do now determines how it looks later.

✅ Need Help Getting Your Lawn Back on Track?

At D&D Lawn Co., we help homeowners in Mechanicsburg recover from drought stress and prep their lawns for the winter months. From aeration and overseeding to full cleanups, we’ll make sure your yard is ready to come back stronger than ever next spring.

Contact Our Team👇