Lawn Winterizing— What You Need to Know

Winter is not always kind to your lawn, but if you follow these steps in preparing your yard for cold temperatures, you can give it the best chance of returning healthy and green in spring.

Winterizing your lawn is an important process of steps intended to strengthen roots, prevent damaged grass and ensure growth. Here’s what you should do to winterize your lawn and prepare it for the cold weather.

Clean Up Debris and Leaves

A winter lawn preparation begins with clearing the leaves, sticks, or any other debris that is cluttering up your yard.

It may be convenient to allow the leaves to decompose in their natural state, but leaving too many on your lawn will form a dense sodden layer which will prevent sun and air from circulating.

Over the winter, this can cause mold and disease. Gather leaves on a regular basis, or run the lawnmower over them to chop them into smaller pieces and let them break down to improve your soils.

Mow One Last Time

Mow one last time before the first frost. In the last few mows, you can decrease cutting height until it is around 2 to 2.5 inches high.

If you cut it too short the roots may freeze, and if you leave it too long, pests can invade and matting can cause problems under the snow cover. Mowing at a moderate height is ideal and helps get your lawn ready for going dormant.

Aerate the Soil

Aeration is a process of creating small holes in the soil to allow water, nutrients and oxygen through to the roots where they can receive it.

Fall is the perfect time of year to aerate your lawn as it helps relieve compaction in the soil allowing for healthier root growth which is critical in spring when grass starts pushing out new growth. For this you can either rent an aerator or even hire a professional service.

Apply a Fall Fertilizer

Starting with fall fertilization is a key element of how to winterize your lawn. Use a slow-release fertilizer that is high in potassium to promote a well-developed root system.

Do not use nitrogen-rich fertilizers which will produce more leaves than roots. In the fall, a fertilizer is applied that enables your grass to store nutrients for the winter, so it already has a head start when spring strikes.

Overseed if Necessary

Overseeding fall also a great time if you have bare patches or thin areas of grass. This is the process of seeding over existing lawn to densify your lawn and make it more resistant to disease and weed pressure.

Make sure to select a seed blend suited for your climate and type of grass. After overseeding, soak the soil to encourage seeds to germinate.

Water Wisely

The weather can be unpredictable during the fall, but even though it’s getting cooler outside your lawn still needs water until the ground freezes.

This will help ensure your grass has good deep roots as well prevent it from drying out. As temperatures drop, you may not need to water as often, but if still dry much of the week, try to provide about 1 inch of water per week.

Control Weeds

Even during the winter, weeds can compete with grass for nutrients. Apply a pre-emergent herbicide or spot treat any visible weeds, in the fall. Dealing with weeds now means they are not robbing your lawn of health and you can start spring with a healthy, weed-free lawn.

Protect Against Snow Mold

Snow mold, which can harm lawns that are blanketed with snow while they sit on top of unfrozen ground for long stretches of time, is a fungal disease. Try to keep those snow piles off your lawn and you will lower that risk, it will drain from there. Snow model can also be a problem so foot traffic and the right cut height help prevent that as well.

Avoid Heavy Traffic

Feet walking across your lawn during winter, especially in frost, should be avoided as much as possible.

Stepping on frozen grass can lead to grass damage as well as reduce strength of individual blades thereby making the recovery more difficult once spring arrives.

With these tips, you can effectively winterize your lawn so that it has the strength to withstand the harshness of winter. And by spring, you will be rewarded with a thriving healthy green lawn!