Winter Lawn Preparation Tips

Rid the Lawn of Weeds

Weeds like dandelions grow persistently. Furthermore, these pesky plants often thrive in cooler temperatures. Therefore, landscape industry professionals urge homeowners to treat their lawns with weed-killing chemicals during the early fall. Doing so prevents seeds produced by these lifeforms from spreading into the grass during the summer months and growing as soon as spring arrives.

Fill Existing Bare Spots

Bare spots on a lawn stick out. Fortunately, however, laying down seeding during the fall addresses these eyesores. Grass still grows in September and October. Moreover, filled bare spots often grow quickly and thrive once the calendar turns to spring. However, to ensure the best results, seeding must be watered regularly. Moreover, property owners must stay off the newly planted grass to enable its roots to properly formulate.

Adjust Irrigation Schedules

Lawn care professionals urge customers to water their lawns less frequently during the fall. As temperatures drop, grass becomes less reliant on water. As an added bonus, using less water reduces a homeowner’s water bills and helps the environment by conserving large quantities of water. The only grass requiring consistent irrigation during the fall is seeds filling bare spots.

Rake Leaves

Do not allow leaves to pile up. A large collection of leaves often injures grass blades, which could stunt grass’s growth or result in ugly bare spots. Moreover, leaves deprive grass of the sunshine needed for proper growth. Without access to adequate sunshine, a lawn would more than likely not survive the winter. Therefore, even a moderate accumulation of leaves must be raked immediately.

Fertilize

Fertilizers benefit lawns much like vitamins nourish people. These products contain nutrients grass requires to thrive and remain healthy. Therefore, treating lawns with fertilizer in the fall provides the added oomph they need to pass through the winter unscathed.

That said, homeowners must apply a product most compatible with their lawn. Factors determining compatibility include the property’s geographic location and climate. Landscaping professionals or home improvement retailer employees often serve as good sources to consult for advice.

Mow

Grass continues growing during the fall season. Ergo, property owners must mow their lawns throughout the fall and not stop until the grass stops growing for the season. Typically, this occurs in late October or early November. Properly maintained lawns stand a better chance of thriving right out of the gate come springtime.

Aerate

The aeration process involves creating holes in a lawn’s soil. This action enables a greater amount of air, water, and nutrients to enter the grass’s roots providing healthy nourishment throughout the winter. When performed correctly, aeration promotes deeper root growth resulting in a greener, lusher-looking lawn come spring. Typically, this process is completed using an aerating machine.

Spread Compost

Compost is a mixture of degraded plants and other environmental waste products. Lawn care professionals suggest homeowners spread this material throughout their lawns. Doing so fills large gaps created during aeration and provides solid fertilizer for the surrounding soil.

Keep Lawn Clean

Remove items like lawn chairs or any other type of debris from the grass before winter sets in. Maintaining a clean lawn protects the grass from injury and ensures the lifeform receives adequate sunlight.

Stay Off the Lawn

Landscapers urge their customers to stay off their lawns as much as possible during the fall and winter seasons. This action allows the grass to breathe, avoid injury, and better absorb necessary nutrients.

Adjust Lawnmower Blade Height

Landscapers urge homeowners to raise their lawnmower’s blade anywhere from one-half to one inch in preparation for the last few mowings of the fall season. This effort preserves larger portions of a grass blade’s leaf. With a greater amount of the leaf intact, grass absorbs increased levels of sunlight making it better equipped to stay strong and healthy through the winter.

That said, when planning the fall season’s final mow, the blade should be lowered roughly one-half inch. Taking such action ensures grass blades are too short to accumulate excessive amounts of snow and ice, which carry the potential to damage surrounding roots.

Dethatch

The dethatching process involves eliminating dead grass from a lawn. Dead grass, which is also known as thatch, interferes with a lawn’s ability to absorb sunlight, water, and other necessary nutrients. Typically, dethatching is completed using a thatch rake.

Properly Maintain Surrounding Trees and Shrubs

Unkempt trees and shrubs surrounding a lawn often block the grass from obtaining sunlight. Moreover, neighboring shrubs or trees infected with pathogens like fungi or insects could spread onto the lawn. Therefore, homeowners must adequately maintain all landscaping

Treat Ice Formations Quickly

Ice formations near driveways and walkways surrounding a lawn often impact grass negatively. When temperatures rise during the spring and solid turns to liquid, lawns often become oversaturated. Therefore, property owners must treat ice formations using salt and other melting agents. However, be sure to keep these products off the grass as much as possible.

Avoid Procrastination

Landscaping professionals urge property owners to avoid procrastination. Planning should start in the early fall and all steps be completed as soon as possible. By the first frost, it is too late.