Whether you are ready to hear this or not, winter is coming our way. As naturally as you would for your car, your clothes—and your mind! —, your lawn needs to get ready for the cold season. Here are six maintenance tasks and preventive measures to maximize your chances of getting a healthy, durable lawn next spring.
1 – Core Aeration
Although more common in spring, your lawn may need to be aerated in the fall as well. Core aeration is a decompacting process that helps water and nutrients reach the soil underneath. In turn, it enables roots to grow deeper. So, get your aerator out! Your lawn will thank you early next spring.
2 – Fertilizing
Fall fertilizing is the best way to make sure your lawn receives all the nutrients it needs to withstand the winter. As snow melts, vitamins provided by the fertilizer are still available to feed your lawn. This helps your lawn start the season with a bang.
3 – Overseeding
Areas sparsely covered with grass, combined with snow and ice, are meant to be a poor match. Without proper cover, you could find insects and weeds have settled in or dried out patches the following spring. By overseeding now, you maximize your chances to successfully grow a thick and lush lawn in the spring.
4 – Raking of Leaves
A colourful carpet of leaves is always a mesmerizing sight. It’s also a pile of joy for the little ones! However, your lawn will not be as happy. Grass can suffocate from being buried under this layer of fallen leaves all winter long. Make sure you clean those leaves! To do so, you have two options:
- You can rake the leaves and put them into biodegradable bags.
- You can spread the leaves and chop them with the lawn mower. This is called “grasscycling”. By doing so, leaves release their nutrients back into your lawn; this means a happy lawn!
Give it a try!
5 – Last Mowing
Generally, towards the end of October, you can mow your lawn one last time. The last trim should be short. Make sure you set the cutting height to five centimeters. This is a way to prevent diseases and small rodents from settling in during winter.
6 – Snow Protection
It is common to blow the snow on your yard during winter, along with sand, grit, calcium, and various winter debris. These residues can damage your lawn, but most of all, they can make your life difficult as you undertake spring chores. How can we solve this problem? Easy! Put a winter protective cover.
Not only will this cover protect your lawn, but it will also make spring cleaning easier. Do not install the cover too soon in the fall and do not remove it off too soon in the spring, which could either smother or burn your lawn.
Ready? Set? Go!
While fall rhymes with the end of garden chores for many, it’s actually the opposite for lawn care. Now’s the time to get to work one last time to grow a healthy, durable lawn next spring!
Remember your Nutrite Expert can help with more technical tasks such as core aeration and fertilizing. Find an expert near you, our experts look forward to providing you with the best advice!
