USA Today Features SavATree Expert on Fall Lawn and Landscape Prep

August 2026

Bob Shinn, Lawn Care Services Line Director at SavATree, was featured in USA Today, sharing why the end of summer is the most important stretch of the year for homeowners who want a healthy lawn and landscape.

The article, published on August 26, 2026, laid out an end-of-summer home checklist and turned to Shinn for guidance on preparing a yard for the season ahead. As he explained, fall is the single most critical time to set up a lawn and landscape for spring success, because the soil is still warm enough to support active root growth. Grass and plants that establish stronger roots before winter come back thicker and healthier once temperatures climb again.

Shinn pointed to three steps that make the biggest difference. Core aeration relieves compacted soil and improves the flow of air, water, and nutrients to the root zone, and fall is the ideal window to overseed with cool-season grasses so they fill in thin patches before winter and crowd out weeds the following spring. A late-season fertilizer, paired with any soil amendments a lawn needs such as lime, helps grass store the carbohydrates and nutrients that carry its roots through dormancy and fuel new growth in spring.

For trees and shrubs, Shinn recommended applying a 2- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch around beds. Mulch insulates roots and locks in soil moisture, helping trees and shrubs hold up through freezing temperatures.

A SavATree ISA Certified Arborist can evaluate a property's lawn, trees, and shrubs and recommend the right combination of core aeration, fertilization, and seasonal protection to close out the year strong and set the landscape up for spring.

Read the full article here