Fall 2025 Lawn & Garden To-Do List

With the new school year underway, weekend sports in full swing, and holiday travel on the horizon, it’s easy to let your lawn fall by the wayside. But taking a little time this fall to tackle a few key tasks can make a big difference in how your lawn performs come spring. Here are five essential things you can do this fall to help your lawn and landscape.

1. Reduce Watering
As outdoor temperatures drop, your lawn needs less water. Right now, most lawns only require approximately ½ inch of irrigation per week. If you have a newer irrigation system, it may automatically adjust for the season and weather. If not, or if you prefer to do things manually, check out WaterMyYard.org for up to date watering recommendations (this website only has certain participating cities, so find the area closest to you). Once the weather drops below 55° consistently, you can probably shut your irrigation system off completely, or just water manually as needed. Don’t forget to wrap or cover outdoor faucets and exposed pipes to prevent freezing.

2. Mow Tall
Unless you’re planning to over-seed, don’t scalp your lawn in the fall. Instead, leave it on the taller side and consider skipping the final mow of the season. Taller grass helps protect roots from freeze damage, and shields the soil from winter weeds. Save the short cut for spring, when it’s time to remove thatch and dead growth.

3. Trim Trees & Bushes
Fall is the perfect time for heavier pruning. If you want more grass to grow under mature trees, now is a good time to thin out the tree’s canopy and let in more sunlight. Hold off on cutting back roses or flowering perennials until early spring, when the risk of a hard freeze has passed.

4. Add Mulch
Now is the perfect time to add a fresh layer of mulch to your landscaping and gardens. Mulch plays an important role in any landscape by helping maintain moisture in the soil, preventing erosion, protecting roots from freezing and suppressing weed growth. I recommend using a natural shredded mulch. Native hardwood or Texas cedar are my personal favorites. Maintain a 2½ to 3 inch layer wherever possible. In areas where erosion and washout isn’t an issue, you can use alternative materials like pecan shells, pine needles, or straw.

5. Plant Trees, Shrubs, Flowers & Grass
Fall is one of the best times to plant, especially larger trees and shrubs. Plants put most of their energy into root development during this time, which helps them establish before next summer’s heat. You can also plant cool-season grass seed and lay sod for most warm-season grasses (except St. Augustine). If you’re planting warm season grass seed or St. Augustine sod, it’s best to wait until early spring to avoid winter damage.