Keeping your lawn gorgeous through the cooler months is the goal every year, and it can be attained by winterizing your lawn. The cold is hell on your grass, but by following a few simple-yet-effective steps, you can have the lush, hearty green turf by the time the warmer months come back around. When your lawn can withstand a cold winter, it’ll have the fortitude to thrive in the warmer months. The sooner you winterize, the easier green-up will be in March and April.
Get Rid of Weeds
Protect your shrubs and grass, but don’t let weeds and other nuisances rob them of vital nutrients. Remove the unsightly weeds at once, and then you begin to truly prepare for winter.
Use a Good Nitrogen Fertilizer
When temperatures start to drop the grass begins to inhibit their growth and contain energy stores in their roots to respond. These reserves help your grass maintain itself throughout the cold period. How healthy your lawn is dictates its performance in the spring.
Use a s spreader to disperse the fertilizer evenly and effectively across your lawn. Adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations for your type of grass and the quantities to apply.
Aerate and Reduce Thatch
Aerating lets oxygen, water, sunlight, and other nutrients, like nitrogen, get down to the roots of your lawn with the reduction of soil compaction. Removing or reducing thatch (buildup of clippings and debris that can suffocate your grass) can also allow nutrients to get to your grass. Since grass stores the good stuff in its roots during the non-growing months, these steps will help root growth.
You can rent a motorized aerator if you don’t own one Another option will be to use a manual aerator, while it takes more time and effort, the results will be priceless.
Spread New Seed Evenly
Optimal temps for new grass are highs around 60 or 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Be sure your purchase cool-weather grass seed. Then, spread it across your lawn using the same type of spreader used for fertilizer or a handheld spreader. Make sure the distribution of seeds is even across your lawn.
Keep Your Garden Bed Covered
Keep your flower beds and veggie gardens covered in the winter. Mulch or burlap assists greatly with protection and insulation. Even smaller plants might need repotting and to be brought inside for protection from the harsh winter.
Rake, Mow, Water
Raking your lawn removes excess thatch that prevents important nutrients from reaching the lawn’s roots. It also breaks up clumps of soil and covers any exposed seeds. Continue to rake the lawn throughout the fall and winter when you notice it’s covered with leaves and debris. Gently water your lawn as soon as you plant the seeds, and then continue to keep the lawn moist. Do not over-water it or let it become too dry. Mow your lawn about a half an inch higher than you do during the summer during the beginning of Fall, but the last time you mow your lawn this winter, lower your mowing height to about a half an inch below your Summer mowing height. If you have a mulching mower, use the clippings on your lawn as mulch. Winterizing your lawn is important for the success of your lawn. By following these steps and maintaining your lawn this winter, you could have a supremely lush lawn this Spring.