lawn has areas that need renewing, conditions now are ideal for turfgrass germination. Warm soil, cooler nighttime temperatures, morning dews, more frequent rainfall all favor germination and growth of desirable seed, while discouraging many annual weeds like crabgrass. Should you want to cover larger areas, using rolls of sod may be a better choice to more quickly create a pleasing effect. Check with your local garden center for details and advice on how to do it.

Now is also a great time to rejuvenate lawns with aeration and by applying the high nitrogen fertilizers most grasses need. When you choose fertilizers, seed or sod, make sure you ask for those products adapted to this region. The Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) has developed a line of seed and fertilizers specifically designed for Massachusetts soil and weather conditions. These products are carried by MNLA member garden centers statewide and give best value -- they are specific for this region, not “one-size-fits-all” formulations. Properly prepared for winter, a healthy lawn will look attractive next spring and also require less weed and pest management next year.

Because of their nature, lawns are high resource users. Turfgrass requires frequent rain or irrigation, seasonal fertilizer applications, pest management for insects and diseases, periodic mowing, raking, edging and de-thatching to maintain the best appearance. It has been reported that lawns can use up to 10 times the resources needed to grow food crops or maintain landscape plantings. Make sure you understand that many chemicals typically used to manage a good looking lawn can be dangerous to human and pet health – use them only according to the directions.

As neighborhoods mature, trees become larger, expanding areas of shade where lawns do not thrive. Some grasses like the fescues are shade-tolerant to some degree. Pruning and limbing-up your trees may also help admit more light to the ground. If the lawn is growing weakly, consider replacing areas with low growing plants and groundcovers that impart a similar effect, and generally require less care, once established. Some groundcovers that perform well in shade are periwinkle (Vinca), spurge (Pachysandra), ginger (Asarum), sweet woodruff (Galium), plantain lily (Hosta) and barren strawberry (Waldsteinia).

Particularly if your children are grown and you find your family using your lawn areas less frequently, you may want to consider alternatives to your traditional lawn. Installing beds or islands of landscape plants or groundcovers can create an exciting new appearance for your home, and may provide greater value for your family. Some areas may be suited for developing a meadow or wildflower garden, or even a vegetable garden. Simply extending existing planted areas further into the lawn may also be effective. Low growing plants and groundcovers work well in front of taller plantings. All these choices will need a degree of maintenance, but will certainly use fewer resources than a lawn, and perhaps be more appropriate for your lifestyle preferences.

Many homeowners find that investing relatively few resources in effectively designed landscape plantings adds significant value to their home. A fence or planted bed between your home and the street creates visual perspective to your property by allowing the eye to focus on new areas of interest. Planted areas in the lawn help set your home back from the street or driveway and can make your landscape look more appealing. When you drive around your neighborhood, take note of those properties that excite your senses. Save images that appeal to you from gardening magazines, and note how plantings in public gardens are designed. These ideas help form a basis for understanding what effects you can achieve around your home.

Whether you choose to maintain a magnificent lawn or start developing an entirely new look to your yard, autumn is a great time to do it. Of course your best resource can be your local garden center – it’s there that seasoned experts can help you and your family to visualize and create the result you desire.