Four Ways To Protect Your Grass In The Winter

Blog

The winter months come with a significant number of environmental factors that can cause distress to the plant life in your yard, and your grass is no exception. Buried under snow, subjected to freezing temperatures, and likely to be flooded with water once the temperature thaws the snow, your grass is at great risk of dying or becoming damaged over the course of the winter. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to help protect your grass from these environmental factors and maintain the overall appearance of your yard.

Apply Fertilizer

Though it may seem counterintuitive, applying fertilizer to your grass right before the snow falls is a good way to maintain its health. While your grass won't grow until the spring rolls around again, applying fertilizer early ensures that your grass has access to essential nutrients to help it strengthen itself right before the intense weather hits, making permanent damage much less likely as a result.

Aerate the Lawn

Another great way to ensure that your grass stays healthy throughout the winter months is to aerate it when you apply the fertilizer. Not only will aeration allow for greater absorption of the nutrients from the fertilizer, it will also help ensure proper drainage once the temperature rises again, reducing the risk of flooding and waterlogging in your yard.

Remove Organic Debris

Another simple, important thing that you can do to improve the overall health of your grass and prevent dead spots and other damage from occurring is to rake up all the leaves and other debris that may have collected on your lawn during the autumn season. This is because these pieces of debris can suffocate the grass once the snow melts, blocking sunlight and absorbing water before it manages to make it to the grass itself. For an even larger benefit, you can add this debris to your compost pile to be used for mulch in a few months. 

Weeding

Finally, the last essential piece of lawn maintenance that you should complete to keep your lawn in good shape over the winter is to remove all the weeds remaining in your yard. These weeds, just like the grass that surrounds them, will bloom again in the spring and can quickly suck up nutrients that your grass needs to grow and remain healthy and strong.

If you need more information about protecting your grass in the winter, or if you would like to have someone do the work for you, contact a landscaping maintenance business, such as Nature's Design Landscaping, to discuss your options.

21 June 2018