As temperatures start to drop, most homeowners start to spend less time caring for their lawns. While it’s true your yard doesn’t need as much work during the winter months, you shouldn’t ignore it altogether. The right winter lawn prep ensures your grass weathers harsher temperatures and looks lush and beautiful in spring. Check out these tips to keep your lawn looking great.

Keep Your Lawn Clear

The number one winter lawn prep mistake people make is thinking they can leave fall leaves alone until spring. If you let leaves or other dying plant material linger on the lawn, it ends up forming a soggy mat on top of your grass. This weighs down your grass and makes it more susceptible to fungus or other diseases. Try to always clear off your grass before the first frost and in between bouts of snow.  

Don’t Forget Winter Lawn Fertilizer

Even during the winter months, your lawn can benefit from a little fertilizer. Winter lawn fertilizer gives your grass the nutrients it needs to survive the cold and recover once the weather warms up. Ideally, pick a nitrogen-rich fertilizer and apply it in late fall, before your grass goes dormant. Fertilizing works best when temperatures are still in the 50s. Once soil is frozen, fertilizer is fairly useless because it will just wash away.

Cut Your Grass on the Shorter Side

As the days get shorter, your grass will grow less and less. However, this doesn’t mean you should skip mowing sessions. Most winter grass types do best when cut to around one to two inches in height. This discourages the growth of snow mold and reduces your risk of rodent infestation. Just keep in mind that suddenly scalping your lawn will stress out grass at a delicate time. Try to decrease the length of your lawn over two or three cuttings.

Be Smart About Handling Ice and Snow

Many people end up harming their lawn without even realizing it. When you put ice on sidewalks and driveways, the salty runoff can get into your grass and kill it. A more lawn-friendly alternative is a product made with calcium chloride. Another thing to avoid is piling up shoveled snow on the lawn while dealing with snow removal. The weight can compress your lawn, leading to a bare, muddy spot over time.

Get a Head Start on Weeds and Bare Patches

Since your grass goes dormant in the winter, it is easy to see your problem areas. Fortunately, winter is a good time to deal with them. Most cold-weather grasses can be overseeded in the winter. This lets you get a head start on growing new grass in muddy spots. You may also find it easier to spot a patch of green weeds on your pale, yellow grass. Going ahead and removing them will keep them from gaining a foothold. 

With these lawn care winter tips, it’s easy to get a gorgeous, healthy lawn. And remember, Every Season Landscaping is always here to help. We’re happy to answer your questions and help you plan a good lawn care schedule for winter. Call us now to find out more.