Ready, Set, Plan: Fall Lawn Maintenance and Repair Should Start in Early Fall
Henrico Master Gardener Intern
Summer Drought and Lawn Stress
Summer heat and drought always affect cool-season grass lawns in Henrico County. As our 2026 summer ends, let’s take a moment to review the ways nature has frustrated us.
The long-remembered narrative will be one of drought extreme enough to earn much of Virginia official designations from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The year started cold, but with decent precipitation and hope as we headed into spring. That promise soon dried up. Precipitation recorded by the National Weather Service at Richmond International Airport was 1.71 inches in March and less than one inch in April, both severely below expectations.
How Spring Conditions Affected Lawns
Any lawn grass seeded in spring likely failed. Another situation that is rarely mentioned is the effect on pre-emergent herbicides. These products must be watered into the soil so they can reach weed seeds and stop them from growing after germination.
The growth and health of cool-season grasses are affected by soil temperatures. The ideal range for seed germination and root growth is 50°F to 60°F, while the ideal range for blade growth is 60°F to 75°F. With the exception of a few spring temperature spikes, the spring season was about normal, although that was probably little consolation.
In May, precipitation returned to near-normal levels, and soil temperatures followed normal seasonal patterns. If that sounds like good news, wait. July and August were hot and humid, as expected. Weakened grass combined with heat and humidity created ideal conditions for fungal lawn diseases.
Plan for Fall Lawn Recovery
Let’s hope for a spectacular fall with conditions ideal for lawn renovation or repair.
Lawn Renovation
Virginia Tech professor and Virginia Turfgrass Extension Specialist Dr. Mike Goatley discusses fall lawn recovery strategies in Fall Lawn Recovery Strategies.
He asks, “Is it time for complete renovation?” Dr. Goatley then presents grassing options, spot or partial renovations, soil testing, soil preparation, seeding requirements, and many other lawn-management topics of interest.
Fall Lawn Care
Standard fall lawn care is presented in another Virginia Cooperative Extension publication jointly authored by Michael Goatley Jr., Extension Turfgrass Specialist at Virginia Tech; Shawn Askew, Extension Turfgrass Weed Specialist at Virginia Tech; and David McCall, Extension Turfgrass Pathologist at Virginia Tech.
Read their recommendations in Fall Lawn Care.
Get Local Lawn-Care Assistance
For local recommendations, explanations, and insights, contact the agricultural and natural resources agent at your local Virginia Cooperative Extension office.