When the seasons change, your entire routine tends to get a makeover, too. You may be surprised to learn that autumn can actually be the key to a lush, green landscape right in your own front yard (literally!)

As the Vegas heat dies down a bit, and the sun is no longer such a scorcher, you can take a few steps to ensure (or rebuild) your lawn's health so it's ready to grow when spring starts to bloom.

Here are a few tips to help you keep optimal tabs on your lawn care tasks:

Lower Your Mower

Lower your blade to a height of around 1 1/2 inches, which will help the blades stimulate new growth.

Fertilize

Fall is the perfect time to fertilize in the Las Vegas valley. Look for a formula that provides a balanced mix of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.

Fertilizer has a few responsibilities:

• Improves turf quality
• Bolsters root growth
• Enhances lawn color
• Builds resistance against cold when Nevada temperatures decide to take a dip mid-winter

Aerate

Aeration helps the soil breathe, which, in turn, lets it soak up essential moisture that will help keep your grass healthy.

Forego the silly shoes that have cleat-like spikes on the bottom, and opt for a power aerator that will do the job justice. The equipment will pull plugs of soil from the earth, breaking up thatch along the way. The look is a little unpleasant for a few days, but don't worry; the dirt plugs dissolve back into the earth pretty quickly.

Don't Water Every Day

Not only does your lawn not need a daily dose of water during this time of year, there are actually restrictions against such regular watering. Be sure to check out any particulars for your specific watering group before you accidentally find yourself in violation.

Try Cycle-and-Soak Watering

Cycle-and-soak allows you to take advantage of limited watering availability while giving your grass everything it needs to grow.

Set your sprinklers to water for four minutes three times a day, allowing at least one hour in between cycles. If you have brown spots resulting from pet urine, chemicals, or excessive sun exposure, try hand watering them so you don't have to increase your water usage on the entirety of your yard.

Check Your System

Part of your lawn care process should include maintaining and repairing your existing system. This can be hard to do in the summer when your grass is so thirsty and needs constant upkeep. In the fall, however, you have the ability to your system.

Clean the filter screens by opening the end of the filter and gently running water through them. To remove mineral buildup, you can soak them in a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar. Check for damage before returning the screens to the filters.

Now that you've checked lawn care off the list, what else needs your attention? Download our First Quality Roofing & Insulation Free Home Maintenance Checklist to make sure you're meeting your home's maintenance needs!