Whether you live in a snowy or a sunny climate, winter is a great period of time to scale back from heavy lawn care to give your plants a period of rest. Some people just ignore their lawns and turn the sprinklers off, but that’s not exactly the way to go, and it can actually harm your lawn. Don’t worry, it only takes a few simple steps, so keep reading to learn a little lawn maintenance for the winter.
For starters, you can’t wait until frost sets in before you start to pay attention to your lawn. The time to begin winter lawn maintenance needs to take place before the season really changes. First, with each time you mow, lower the blades of your mower once each time. That way, your grass will slowly become accustomed to surviving at a shorter length by the time its really cold. This will discourage pests from going after your grasses or sheltering in it during the cold months.
Next, before frost sets in, use a lawn aerator to minimize soil compaction. Distribute a basic lawn fertilizer over the breadth of your lawn, which will work its way in slowly. Don’t forget, just like when you mow, when sprinkling fertilizer and aerating, continue to move in a crisscross or “crosshatch” pattern. This will ensure that you don’t leave weird growth patterns when your lawn comes back in.
Next, before frost sets in, use a lawn aerator to minimize soil compaction. Distribute a basic lawn fertilizer over the breadth of your lawn, which will work its way in slowly. Don’t forget, just like when you mow, when sprinkling fertilizer and aerating, continue to move in a crisscross or “crosshatch” pattern. This will ensure that you don’t leave weird growth patterns when your lawn comes back in.
More Tips:
Basic maintenance is the key, from this point on, for servicing your lawn. One thing to do is to sweep, rake, and clear your lawn of all leaves and debris. This includes lawn furniture, toys, play structures, gazebos, anything. Anything sitting on your lawn over time can gradually damage or hinder your grasses. So no parking vehicles on your lawn in the winter months.
If you can remember these basic practices, or have a lawn service take care of them for you every season, it will become second nature to you. Lawn maintenance doesn’t have to be stressful, but it does have to be consistent, and part of that schedule means changing up your lawn care as the seasons change.
