When

you first moved into your new home, you received

information on how to care for the refrigerator,

the range and the heating and cooling system.

But

had you considered how to maintain your lawn?

Soon after you signed the mortgage, you realized

it is your job to keep the yard in top shape.

So,

resist the urge to hide the lawnmower in that

dark, hidden corner of your garage. Then get out

the rake. Unfortunately, the grass does not stop

growing after Labor Day. Your lawn care duties

are far from complete. By doing a few chores this

fall, you will spare yourself from some work next

spring.

Here

are some fall lawn tips:

-

Test your soil.

The wise lawn owner tests his soil in the fall to

determine its nutrient content. Soil that is

saturated with nutrients can become saturated

with water, drowning the lawn's grass.

Grass

growing out of nutrient-deficient soil is less

resistant to drought, pests and disease. After

testing your soil, you will know what kind of

fertilizer it needs and can work to balance its

nutrient content.

-

Reseed. Is your

yard a little too thin on top? Fall is the best

time of year for reseeding your lawn to fill in

those bare patches and make it green and lush by

the following spring.

To

reseed, first loosen the surface soil with a rake

or shovel. Then, spread grass seed over the area

evenly and gently rake to make sure the seed

comes in contact with the soil.

Apply

a light layer of mulch. Reseed the entire yard if

you have a number of large bare spots. You can do

this in one of two ways: overseed or start from

scratch.

-

Aerate. Try

core aerating your lawn before you reseed it.

This process loosens your lawn's soil so air,

water and nutrients can better reach the grass

roots. To make the job easy, use a mechanical

aerator.

-

Fertilize. To

help promote root growth, fertilize your lawn

early this month. Manure and other organic matter

need time to break down. Apply approximately one

pound of nitrogen-rich fertilizer, such as urea,

to every 1,000 square feet of your lawn.

-

Mow. Don't

forget to put cutting the grass on your fall lawn

care itinerary. Well-fertilized grass keeps

growing.

-

Rake. Before

you even finish mowing the grass you will have to

start raking the leaves. Don't let the leaves

stay on your lawn through the winter.

-

Plant. Fall is

a good season for planting trees and shrubs.

-

Take care of

your trees. Enfold your trees in plastic wrap to

prevent them from getting frost cracks.

- Begin the "War of the

Weeds." Apply a pre-emergence weed killer to

control weeds that can crop up during the winter

months.

Yard

maintenance does take some work. But if you

follow these steps in the fall, you will sigh

relief next spring when your lawn peeps its

glorious self through the last patches of sullen

snow.