“Winter is coming”, stated best by the popular fantasy television series, Game of Thrones. As the weather starts to cool down we know that Winter is right around the corner. Here are a few ways that you can prepare your lawn for the inevitable transition to winter. Think of winter as your off-season in your annual landscaping game plan. With the right steps, you can prepare your lawn for the cold weather months and create a dazzling landscape for the following spring.
1. Mow Low
- Grass grows more slowly in Fall, but it still needs to be cut to prep for winter, so cut your grass down to 1¼”. This will make it easier to aerate, and if your grass is more than 3 inches tall, take it down incrementally over a few mowings with no more than a third of the grass blade at a time to avoid stressing the plants.
2. Aerate now
- Your lawn can more easily fare the winter weather come back with more vitality in the spring if you aerate while it is still green. As your lawn transitions into the cold months, give your lawn some breathing room. Fall aeration breaks up the dry, compacted soil, allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots.
3. Overseed
- Fall aeration and overseeding helps to fill in bare spots to provide a thick green lawn. It also helps make your lawn less susceptible to disease by introducing a variety of hardy grass types.
4. Soak your soil
- Proper lawn care involves caring for the soil beneath it as well. Soil conditioner will improve your soil’s physical qualities, especially its ability to provide nutrition for your lawn and plants. It will also green up your lawn and help eradicate brown spots.
5. Fertilize
- Since you are investing time and money into mowing, trimming and maintaining your lawn, you should go ahead and fertilize in the fall as well. Fall weed control kills perennial weeds, such as dandelions and thistles more effectively than spraying in the summer.
6. Trim your trees
- It’s important to prune certain species during their dormant season in order to prevent the start of diseases such as Fire Blight, which attacks fruit trees such as pear, apple, and even crabapple trees. It’s also a great time to prune deciduous or “leafy” trees when they are dormant and it’s the best possible time to prune overgrown evergreen and spruce trees.
Getting your lawn ready for winter is vital to protecting its year-round health. Neglecting this crucial work will cost you in the spring, when minor trouble spots may develop into major problems. If you would like some help transitioning your lawn from Fall to Winter, then consider hiring a professional Landscape Management company. Here at Mansell Landscape Management, we offer year-round landscape management as well as seasonal color programs. Contact us today for more information.