Many homeowners take a break from lawn maintenance in winter, but you shouldn’t completely abandon your lawn. In fact, you should start preparing your lawn for cold weather well before winter starts to enjoy a lush lawn in spring. We’ve got all the pointers you need to care for your lawn in winter.
Aerate
Compacted soil prevents air, nutrients, and water from reaching grass roots, resulting in dead spots and thinning. So, aerate the lawn before winter sets in to relieve compaction and facilitate water infiltration into the soil.
Use a garden fork or aerator to break up compacted soil while being careful of any underground irrigation lines. If you have a big lawn, you may need a mechanical aerator to do the job effortlessly.
Fertilize
After you open up your lawn, spread a winter fertilizer around the grass to provide the nutrients it needs to grow healthy in spring. Don’t wait until the soil is frozen to fertilize your lawn, as most of the fertilizer washes away. Instead, apply a fertilizer with at least 10% nitrogen before winter starts. The grassroots will absorb and store the nutrients when it’s cold and tap into them in the spring.
Clean Up the Lawn
Debris smothers lawn grass and attracts damaging pests. Thus, keep your lawn clean by removing leaves, sticks, toys, and furniture. If the leaves are not too thick, break them up into small pieces using your mower and spread them around the lawn for extra nutrients. Keep removing fallen branches and leaves during winter.
Cut the Grass a Bit Shorter Than Usual
Longer grass is more vulnerable to freezing conditions and can smother itself. Lower your mower’s height a notch or two when cutting the grass before winter but not too short that you leave it exposed to extreme temperatures.
Limit Traffic
Dormant grass is prone to compaction under heavy traffic. Keep sidewalks and pathways clear of snow to discourage people from walking on your lawn since grass gets weak under constant traffic. Additionally, don’t park heavy snow blowers and vehicles on your lawn. If you place shoveled snow on the grass, spread it out rather than piling it high to limit soil compaction.
Water Your Lawn
Although your lawn doesn’t need as much water in winter as in summer, it needs irrigation during winter droughts or when temperatures are above 40ºF. Water in the morning to give roots adequate time to absorb water and allow evaporation before temperatures drop in the evening.
Your lawn needs extra care during winter to grow lush and beautiful in spring. Once warmer temperatures roll in, you will be glad you aerated, fertilized, and cleaned debris from your lawn.
