08/19/2026
For Minnesota, the 6 weeks leading into fall are some of the most important weeks for your lawn. The goal is to recover from summer stress and get the grass strong before winter.
Here are the biggest things to focus on:
Keep mowing: Stay around 3–3.5 inches for now. Don’t scalp the lawn.
Water deeply: Aim for roughly 1 inch of water per week, including rain. Early morning is best.
Kill weeds now: Late summer into fall is a great time to tackle dandelions, clover, creeping Charlie, and other broadleaf weeds.
Aerate: Late August through September is a great aeration window in Minnesota, especially if the soil is compacted.
Overseed thin areas: After aerating is a perfect time to add grass seed. Cool nights and warm soil help new grass establish.
Fertilize: Apply a late-summer/early-fall fertilizer to help the lawn recover and build stronger roots.
Dethatch if needed: If you have more than about ½ inch of thatch, consider dethatching before aerating and seeding.
Keep leaves cleaned up: Once leaves start dropping, don't let thick layers sit on the grass.
Lower the mower gradually: As fall progresses, slowly bring the lawn down closer to 2.5–3 inches for the final cuts.
Final fall fertilizer: Later in fall, a final fertilizer application can help the lawn store nutrients for winter and green up faster next spring.
