Getting the Lawn Ready
Time has come to start planning to prepare the house yard for the winter. Since the cold weather will arrive shortly, let the grass be prepared. This means that from now onwards, it is not a good idea to aerify, fill, or dethatch the turf or do anything else that would disrupt or harm it. Before winter dormancy, the grass might not have enough time to recover adequately. For homeowners, autumn is the ideal time to get the yard ready for winter. Benefit from the warm weather and prepare the yard for the arrival of frost and colder temperatures.
How does Grass respond to Winter?
Though it may seem, the grass does not actually die in the winter; rather, the lawn experiences several changes. Reduced growth is brought on by shorter days combined with cooler temperatures before the grass finally goes dormant. Brown spots are typically caused by the death of older grass blades. Grass that is dormant typically has a tanner hue.
Impact of Snow on the Lawn
The breaking of the lawn is a result of the extreme cold and snow shoveling, which also damage the grass. Fortunately, lawn care experts are on hand to support homeowners during this challenging snowy season.
The lawn gets moldy due to snow! A particular kind of fungal illness known as ‘snow mold’ grows underneath snowfall. The brownish areas on the grass will be visible after spring arrives and the snow has melted. Although snowfall cannot be halted, it can unquestionably be stopped from building up in the yard. Don’t forget to remove all the snow after the fun is finished when kids are down making snowmen or snow forts!
The grass starts to lose some of its lush, brilliant green hues as the temperature drops and starts to become a light golden brown. Due to the winter temperatures making the grass dormant, the color changes. In light of this, make sure to sow grass seeds before the start of the snowfall to avoid snow-stopping grass seed germination. By seeding, bald patches in the yard are removed, and the lawn is strengthened for the spring. The absence of bald areas means that summer weeds won’t grow there.
Even though it is lovely when the temperature drops below freezing and the garden transforms into a winter paradise, this can severely harm the grass. The yard’s foot movement might harm frozen grass because it is fragile. To prevent significant harm to the grass throughout the winter, try to avoid walking through the lawn as much as possible.
How to Prepare the Lawn for the Coming Winter?
1.Continue Mowing and Raking up Leaves
It’s tempting to stop mowing when the temperature drops. Owners should continue cutting the grass, though, as long as the lawn is still growing. However, it’s acceptable to start cutting the lawn shorter once the winter weather starts to arrive more frequently. Keep it about 1 and 1 1/2 inches tall. Take the time to rake them up as they start to pile up in the yard.
2. Let the Soil Breathe Air
The ground beneath the grass becomes compacted after the summer. When this occurs, the roots of the lawn are stressed and have a harder time receiving the nutrients they require. The lawn should be ventilated as the best solution. This entails making several holes in the dirt all over the lawn, which helps to loosen the soil and let air reach the roots.
3. Dead Patches and Weed Need Attention
Dealing with those dead or bald parts of the grass that never seemed to grow during the summer is best done in the fall. Spread some seed or a lawn repair package on those trouble spots. Just be careful when choosing the grass seed type to ensure that the yard’s color is even and pleasing. Pull out weeds as soon as they are seen. To completely remove the roots of weeds with deep roots, use a hand-held weed cutter.
4. Fertilizer Plan and the Sprinkler Blowout are a Must
Make a fertilizer plan and follow it. Once the grass begins to go dormant, most lawns need fertilization, if only a little. Make sure it has all it needs to flourish healthily once more in the spring. When it’s time to quit watering the yard, use a sprinkler blowout. By doing this, owners won’t have to worry about those chilly winter nights harming their sprinklers because the system will be freeze-proof and help remove any extra water in the lines.
5. Let the Lawn Settle
Avoid a few activities on the lawn now. Make sure visitors don’t park on the lawn, and wherever possible, find alternate areas for youngsters to play. Winter efforts won’t be ruined by the occasional soccer or football game on the turf. However, frequent use and a lot of foot traffic might cause harm that will be difficult to fix before the growing season really gets going.
The Bottom Line
Beautiful and colorful grass is the heart of every house. The lawn can be maintained properly, including mowing, weeding, and disease management, to remain appealing through the fall. Therefore, ensure that it is ready for the upcoming winter. Make the grass survive next winter so that your family may enjoy the grass in the spring also.
