Half of homeowners underestimate the value of fall yard maintenance
According to a national fall work survey of American homeowners conducted by NaturaLawn of America, only 50% completely agree that fall lawn maintenance gives them the best chance of having a healthy lawn in spring, despite evidence that fall is the most important time to grow a healthy lawn.
“The cooler fall air combined with warm soil temperatures allows grass to germinate and grow roots without the threat of heat or drought in most parts of the country,” said Phil Catron, president and founder of NaturaLawn of America. “It’s this specific fall environment that gives grass the time it needs to develop and store nutrients over winter, which leads to a beautiful and healthy lawn people want come springtime.”
Respondents from the survey are most likely to tackle weeding (52%), edging or trimming (46%) and raking their leaves (44%).
“We’re glad to see more homeowners protecting their lawns from being smothered by leaves and overtaken by weeds, but fertilization, aeration and overseeding are equally important if you want to have a lush green lawn in the spring,” said Catron. “Overseeding makes your lawn look full while making it harder for weeds to take root, fertilization ensures it has the nutrients it needs stored up for winter and aeration allows for air circulation and nutrient absorption.”
Lawn care is no longer a weekend-only pursuit. With 52% of respondents working from home at least partially, 87% of those homeowners are working on their lawn throughout the week to allow more of their weekend to be spent with family (55%), taking time to relax and unwind (54%), doing house projects (49%) and pursuing other hobbies and interests (49%). Also notable is that 51% use a lawn service for some or all their yard maintenance.
Results are based on a national survey of 1,155 U.S. homeowners ages 18+. The survey was fielded July 29, 2024 using SurveyMonkey Audience. The margin of error is +/- 2.9%.