Preparing Your Lawn for Winter

Fall is the most important season for cool-season grasses like Kentucky Bluegrass and tall fescue—especially here in Littleton and Highlands Ranch, where summer stress can take a toll on turf health. A well-timed fall lawn care plan sets your yard up for success next spring, but preparation is key.

Whether you’ve scheduled lawn aeration, fall fertilizer, overseeding, or sprinkler blowout services, here’s how to get your lawn ready—and what to expect as temperatures begin to cool.

1. Keep Your Lawn Clear of Debris

Throughout the fall and into early winter, regularly remove leaves, sticks, pine needles, and branches from your lawn. A clean lawn helps:

• Air and sunlight reach the soil

• Prevent mold and fungal issues

• Ensure seeding and fertilizer contact the soil surface

Blow or rake as needed—even after our service—to maintain your results.

2. Start Mowing to the Correct Height

As we move through fall, begin mowing your grass to a consistent height of 3 inches or less:

• This helps prepare the lawn for aeration and seeding.

• Mowing short before winter prevents snow mold and matted grass.

• Limit mowing when the grass begins to brown or go dormant to reduce stress.

3. Adjust Your Watering Schedule

Once fall temperatures cool:

• Cut back on watering frequency, but don’t stop entirely.

• Watering 1–2 times per week may be enough to support new seed or help roots absorb nutrients from fall fertilizer.

Be sure to keep newly seeded areas evenly moist for the first few weeks after service.

4. Know the Best Time to Seed

Timing matters when it comes to overseeding your lawn:

• Best time to seed is late August through September

• October is too late for Kentucky Bluegrass (it takes 21–28 days to germinate)

• If you’re seeding in October, we’ll use tall fescue, which germinates faster and better tolerates cool soil temps

Not sure what seed type is right for your lawn? We’ll help assess and plan your service based on your lawn’s condition and schedule.

5. Aeration & Fertilizing: Timing and Cut-Offs

The ideal window for fall lawn aeration and fertilizer treatments in Littleton and Highlands Ranch is:

• September through the first week of October

• After the first week of October, we shift our focus to sprinkler blowouts only

So, if you want to schedule aeration or overseeding, don’t wait—early fall is prime time.

❄️6. Prepare for Snow and Winter Lawn Care

Colorado winters can be dry, cold, and unpredictable. Here’s how to protect your lawn through the snow season:

• Remove snow from shady areas where it lingers for weeks—this helps prevent:

  • Snow mold from forming

  • Voles from tunneling under snow and damaging your turf

• Push snow toward sunny parts of your lawn where it melts faster

• Limit foot traffic on frozen or brown lawns to avoid damaging dormant grass

• Continue clearing leaves and branches through the winter to maintain airflow and reduce rot

Local Lawn Experts Serving Littleton & Highlands Ranch

At Cowboy Lawn and Sprinkler, we specialize in fall lawn services tailored to Colorado’s unique conditions. Whether you need lawn aeration, fertilizing, overseeding, or sprinkler blowouts, we’ve got you covered—with premium care and real results.

✔️ Serving Littleton, Highlands Ranch, and surrounding areas
✔️ Locally owned and operated
✔️ Experts in cool-season lawn care, timing, and treatments

Reminder:
Aeration and fertilizing end after the first week of October. After that, we’re focused on sprinkler winterization only. Book now to reserve your spot before we switch gears!

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