How to Care for the Lawn in Winter
The winter months can be a stressful time for your lawn. The cold and dry weather may cause the grass to turn brown or yellow, which can significantly damage its appearance.
Luckily, there are ways to keep your lawn healthy and green, even during winter. If you spend a little time preparing your yard for the cold weather, you will benefit from a gorgeous spring thaw.
Here are some essential tips:
- Aerate & Fertilize Before the Frost
Aerate the lawn. This process removes plugs of soil from your lawn and helps the grass breathe, which is vital for healthy lawn care growth.
Maintaining a healthy lawn during winter means monitoring it year-round. That includes fall fertilization before frost arrives, so you’ll have good ground conditions when most people start mowing again in the springtime.
2. Keep Everything Tidy
You may be tempted to let the grass grow a little longer in winter, but don’t do it! Your lawn care needs regular mowing to stay healthy and beautiful.
You should always try to remove any leaves or debris from gathering on your lawn. Yes, some leaves are good for nutrients, but you want the sunshine more and having that layer of extra covering gone helps a great deal.
3. Avoid Heavy Traffic on Your Lawn
Winter is an excellent time for a snowball fight or for putting up seasonal decorations. However, if a bunch of visitors or family guests are trampling all over your yard, your grass will suffer.
Try to minimize extra traffic so the underlying grassroots do not get compacted and cannot grow when the spring thaw arrives.
4. Try to Lower Animal or Pet Urination
If you have pets urinating on your lawn, try to avoid them being outside as much as possible. If they are outside, make sure they have a different place to relieve themselves. If your dog is urinating on the lawn, use sprinklers to wash away its urine.
You can also use enzyme cleaners that break down pet waste products and help with odor control in your lawn care.
5. Use Winter Seed
Winter seed is different from summer seed. Winter varieties are more likely to germinate in cold weather and more apt to survive the winter months. In other words, you can plant winter seeds any time of year.
6. Lower Your Salt Use
Salt is not the solution to all your snow and ice woes. Salt can kill plants and contaminate water sources, so it’s important to use salt sparingly.
In fact, experts recommend using only one-third as much salt as you would if the ground were bare. And if you’re worried about slipping on the driveway or sidewalk, consider sand for traction.
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
Plan ahead, and you can avoid many of the common problems that arise in winter lawn care. A little prep work will save you time and energy while ensuring your lawn is healthy and ready for spring.
The best way to prepare your lawn for winter is by regular maintenance throughout autumn and early winter, which will set it up for success during this time of year when lawn care takes on an entirely new meaning.
Our team at Wenke Lawncare has the equipment and years of experience to ensure your property looks fantastic all year round. So give us a call today to schedule a consultation, and let’s get to improving your yard no matter what the weather is outside.
