Fall is just about officially here, but it’s not time to pack your lawn mower away for the winter just yet. Most of us still have several good weeks of green grass left to enjoy before ol’ Jack Frost comes a callin’.

So continue cutting your grass to its maximum recommended height—right up until it stops growing and becomes dormant. Then drop the blade a notch, and mow one last time. And don’t let fallen leaves remain on your lawn, or they’ll block the sun and moisture from reaching the grass. Rake ‘em up and add them to your compost pile. And to speed up the decomposition process, mow over the debris several times first, until they’re nickel-sized pieces.

Many types of grass start to go dormant when the first frost hits in the fall. So pay attention to the weather forecast, and a few days before temps are expected to dip into the 30s, give your turf one last, thorough soaking with my Last Supper Tonic. A lawn that goes into the winter with a full stomach will always wake up in better shape than one that didn’t get that extra bit of pampering. Here’s how to whip up a batch:

Mix ½ can of beer with ½ cup each of apple juice, Gatorade®, urine, fish emulsion, ammonia regular cola (not diet), and baby shampoo in a large bucket. Then pour the solution into your 20 Gallon Hose-End Sprayer, and apply it to the point of run-off.

For more terrific tips for keeping your turf in tip-top shape, check out my All-American Lawns book—FREE for 21 days!