🌱 Dealing with Weeds and Bare Spots Before Winter Hits

How to restore your lawn’s health and get it ready for spring

As the weather cools down, most people stop thinking about weeds—but this is actually one of the best times to tackle them. Fall in North Carolina offers the perfect balance of warm soil and mild air that helps grass recover faster and grow thicker. If you’ve got pesky weeds or thinning patches in your lawn, here’s how to handle them before winter sets in.

Identify What’s Growing (and What’s Not)

Start by figuring out what kind of weeds you’re dealing with. Common fall culprits in NC include clover, crabgrass, chickweed, and dandelions. Some of these die off in winter, while others survive and come back stronger in spring. If your yard looks patchy, you might also be missing the right balance of nutrients or water. Knowing what’s going on helps you target the real problem instead of just covering it up.

Remove or Treat Weeds

For small patches, hand-pull or spot-treat with a selective herbicide. For larger areas, a fall pre-emergent treatment prevents new weeds from germinating. Since every lawn is different, it’s smart to use a product made for your specific grass type—especially if you have warm-season grass that will soon go dormant.

If you’re unsure what to use, Dad’s Landscaping can help identify your weeds and safely apply the right treatment so you don’t accidentally damage healthy turf.

Loosen Up the Soil

Before reseeding any bare spots, loosen the soil a few inches deep. In NC’s compact clay, roots struggle to grow if the ground is too hard. A manual rake or core aerator creates small openings that allow seed, air, and water to penetrate. Think of it as giving your lawn room to breathe.

Reseed the Bare Spots

Next, spread a quality grass seed that matches your existing lawn. For most Fuquay-Varina and Holly Springs homeowners, tall fescue is a solid choice because it tolerates both heat and cold well. Sprinkle the seed evenly, lightly cover it with soil or straw, and water it daily until it starts to sprout. Keep the top layer of soil damp, not soaked, to help roots establish.

Feed and Protect

Once your seeds have sprouted, apply a gentle starter fertilizer to encourage deep root growth. Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizers at this stage; they can burn young grass. Keep foot traffic off those areas until the new blades are about three inches tall, and continue watering regularly even as temperatures drop.

Add a Thin Layer of Compost or Mulch

A light layer of compost or fine mulch over new seed helps trap moisture and regulate temperature. It also adds nutrients to the soil, giving new grass a boost before winter dormancy sets in. Just don’t pile it too thick—about a quarter-inch is enough.

Plan for Prevention

Once your lawn is back on track, consider a maintenance plan for next year. A good weed-control schedule, proper mowing height, and seasonal fertilizing go a long way toward preventing problems before they start.

💡 A Quick Tip from Dad’s Landscaping

If you only tackle one thing this fall, make it aeration followed by overseeding. This combination helps fill in bare patches naturally while choking out weeds before they can take hold. By next spring, you’ll see a fuller, greener lawn with fewer problem spots.