5 Winter Lawn Tips to protect your lawn during the cold dry months and keep it healthy for the warm weather to come.
Winter may be the season that you spend the least amount of time thinking about your lawn, so here are 5 easy tips that will help your turf make it through the cooler weather and come out healthier and better looking in the spring and summer months.
Fertilize - Applied in the late Fall or early Winter, before the first freeze, giving your lawn a thorough fertilizing will help replace the nutrients that your soil might have lost during the hot summer months.Test your soil with a testing kit available from your local lawn care store or take a sample to an Afri-Life agent to determine the best fertilizer mix.Using an organic or ‘time release’ mix will help feed your lawns root system all winter long.And when spring comes, your lawn will have the necessary nutrients to yield a lush, green grass. Mowing Strategies - For St. Augustine lawns, leaving the mowing height the same year round will help insulate its shallow root structure during cold temperatures.For other varieties, gradually lowering your lawn mower’s cutting base prepares your grass for a shorter winter height. A gradual approach to this change is better than cutting it off, all at once.Longer blades of grass can allow winter winds to wick moisture from the soil below.Be sure to visit www.tritexgrass.com to check the ideal mowing height for your grass variety and keep your mower blade sharp for the healthiest results. Keep Your Lawn Clean - When no one goes outside during cold weather, it’s easy for items to be left on the lawn during the long, cold winter.Rake away dead leaves to avoid wet spots that can become mossy and moldy. And create a compost pile or discard the leaves in a manner that keeps them out of the local landfill.Limbs, stray logs, toys, and even lawn furniture can be accidentally overlooked before the first snow comes. So clear the lawn of all objects after you mow it for the last time of the year. And do an occasional sweep of the lawn every few weeks during the winter, as well.If an object is left on the grass during cold weather and snowfall, it can create a dead spot and encourage disease to form and spread. Avoid Excessive Lawn Traffic - Try to prevent foot traffic on your winter lawn. Dormant grass, with its brown color and short height, makes it easy for people to forget that it shouldn’t be walked on.Keep your sidewalks cleared of ice and snow so that you and your family won’t be tempted to cut across the yard and never allow anyone to park a trailer or vehicle on the grass.Even the smallest tires will leave impressions in the soil and kill off the grass underneath, making room for crabgrass and other types of weeds.While grass is resilient during the growing months, it will have a difficult time recovering if a path becomes well worn across the lawn during the winter. Water As Needed - It’s easy to forget that your lawn needs moisture year round.Dormant grass doesn’t remind you to water like it does during the growing seasons. So monitor weather conditions and check your lawn with a moisture meter, at the root level, to tell you when it’s time to water Winter is also a great time to make additions to your lawn like: Flower Beds Raised Beds For Gardening Pathways Patios And Outdoor Lighting Improvements
These are just a few things you can do during even the harshest winter that can ensure a healthy, beautiful, lush yard once spring rolls around again. To find more information for your specific grass variety, go to www.tritexgrass.com.
