When temperatures start dropping, you might look forward to taking a break from lawn mowing for a little while. However, the reality is that you shouldn’t neglect your lawn just because it’s winter. There is still a lot of essential care and maintenance to do during the winter months. Here are some tips for taking care of a lawn during the winter.
1- Aerate and Fertilize Your Yard Early
Give your lawn the help it needs to survive a harsh winter by aerating and fertilizing it. Lawn aeration can be a great way to let more oxygen into the soil and prevent compaction while fertilization can provide some extra nutrients. These steps should usually be done in early winter or late fall, so make sure to start them as soon as possible. You can also wait until the end of winter if you want to get a headstart on the spring growing season.
2- Update Your Tools or Lawn Service
Whether you care for your lawn yourself or work with a lawn care company, winter is a great time to consider your needs. Think about how the past few seasons have worked and decide whether you want to do anything differently. Winter can be a great time to shop for a new mower, switch to a more frequent lawn care schedule, or plan a new sprinkler layout.
3- Clear Away Leaves Regularly
In the southeast, trees continue to drop leaves throughout the winter. If you ignore these leaves, you can get a wet, soggy mess that smothers your grass and encourages pests to flourish. To avoid this issue, make sure to clear away leaf buildup as often as you can. Most lawns will need you to remove leaves at least once per winter, and some may require monthly leaf removal.
4- Tackle Any Pests or Weeds
Pests and weeds might not flourish during the winter months, but if you do have any issues, winter is a great time to address them. The nice thing about spraying for bugs or removing weeds during winter is that these invasive species are already stressed from the harsh weather. This makes it much harder for them to regain a foothold and come back once you remove them.
5- Plan Your Overseeding
Winter is a great time to start looking into types of new grass seeds to add to your lawn, and this process is known as overseeding. For example, if you notice a shady spot where nothing grows, you might want to ask your lawn company about fescue seeding. Though you can’t add seed to a lawn during the dead of winter, you can begin the process right before spring starts. Seeding your lawn with slow-growing grass in late winter can provide your seeds with plenty of moisture right before warm weather hits. This is a great way of ensuring you have plenty of lush new grass as soon as spring starts.
Ultimately, winter lawn care is a simple yet essential part of caring for your landscape. By taking the time to do a few little chores, you can make sure your lawn stays healthy all year long.