Time to start thinking about refreshing your lawn

From now until the middle of October is a great time to aerate your lawn. Aerating will help with lawn compaction and provides more air to the roots. Thatch if the layer of thatch has built up to one inch.

If you are lucky enough to have someone who comes by in your neighborhood to aerate lawns for a reasonable price, take them up on it! Otherwise, you can rent an aerator (and thatcher if needed) for a half day at your local hardware store. That's what we will do later this month.
 
The process to thatch and aerate:

1. Set the lawn mower to 3/4 inch and mow the lawn.
2. Run the thatcher over the lawn once in each direction.
3. Mow again at same setting.
4. Run the aerator in both directions. Aerating is great for your lawn, so you can go over it multiple times.
5. Wait a day for the plugs to dry out somewhat, then mow to break them up. It's not perfect but it makes it look better. Leave them on the lawn - they will work into the soil in a week or two.
6. Overseed  (we use a mix of perennial ryegrass and fine fescue) and fertilize (organic preferred).
7. Water lightly and frequently if it doesn't rain.

Water your dry areas

We have had a long dry spell in the Pacific Northwest. Even with a few rain showers, some of your plants may be suffering. Give your plants that are not in irrigated areas a good dose of water.

Time to divide bearded iris

If your iris are crowded, divide them now. Dig up clumps, cut apart rhizones into divisions with roots and a fan of leaves. Dispose of any damaged or diseased parts. Trim the leaves as you wish for tidiness. Replant about 18" apart at a shallow depth - the same depth as before (unless your clumps were so crowded that they were out of the ground). Water well.

More watering, deadheading, and weeding!

The plants are requiring less water now. It must be the combination of more moisture in the air, shorter days, and less intense sun now that is it September. It also seems like there are fewer weeds sprouting. That's good since it is hard to get the energy up for a lot of yard work at the end of summer.

Certified Wildlife Habitat

My yard is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation.