Winter is coming and it’s time to prep the lawn for the cold weather. Here’s what you need to do to give your lawn the best springboard for new growth when the snow melts and the weather thaws out next year. Learn more about these important lawn tasks to wrap up before winter hits.
Top Lawn Maintenance Tasks to Wrap Up Before Winter
#1 Mowing: Trimming Things Down for a Frost-Ready Lawn
The first job is getting the mowing out of the way. Leaving the grass long before winter is just inviting disease to take hold in your lawn. Mowing the lawn short, to about two inches in length is the best way to preserve its health over the winter months ahead. Giving the lawn a good trim before the winter protects the lawn from frost burn and pathogens like snow mold. Doing this gives it the best platform for good growth in the spring.
#2 Raking and Clearing: Preventing Lawn Damage from Fallen Leaves and Debris
Prepare your yard for winter by cleaning up the lawn and garden beds. Remove dead branches, cut back perennials, and prune trees and shrubs. Now is a great time to rake up the:
- Grass cutting
- Fallen leaves
- Twigs and sticks
- Other garden debris
Do this frequently throughout the fall before the ground freezes. Leaving it on the lawn invites diseases and pests to set up shop and overwinter in your yard. If you don’t, when things thaw out after the harsh winter, the pests and diseases will overrun your lawn and garden. Clear the debris and compost it. If you notice any disease in the waste, toss it in the garbage, not the compost heap.
#3 Aeration: Improve Soil Health Before The Winter Season
Give your lawn a breath of fresh air for the winter. Hire a lawn care professional to aerate the lawn. This will improve airflow to the roots and loosen compacted soil. This task also helps with fertilizer absorption and water distribution to the roots. It primes them for optimal overwintering and the best seasonal recovery when spring arrives.
#4 Fertilizing: Prepping Your Lawn for a Spring Head Start
Give the lawn a last meal before it hibernates for the rest of the year. Fertilizing the grass floods the soil with nutrients. This will give the lawn everything it needs for fast growth when the spring arrives, and the grass wakes up from dormancy. We recommend using a 20-5-10 (4-1-2) NPK ratio for your fertilizer. It’s a better choice than a 10-20-10 (1-2-1) ratio when it comes to optimal lawn maintenance.
Use a spreader for larger lawns to get even distribution. Next, use your irrigation system and water the lawn according to the manufacturer’s directions to activate the fertilizer. Applying a pre-emergent to your lawn in the fall prevents winter weeds from germinating in the spring.
#5 Overseeding: Bolster Lawn Density in the Spring
The next step in the overwintering strategy is overseeding. If your lawn has balding or bare spots, now’s the time to thicken things up. Toss grass seed around these areas and lightly saturate the soil. The seed will find its way into the soil and germinate when the spring rolls around, filling the gaps in your grass for a luscious, thick, green lawn.
#6 Lawn Edging: Defined Borders for a Neat Winter Look
Just because winter causes the grass to die back doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep up your basic lawn care responsibilities. Use the time to clearly define your lawn edges and keep the yard looking neat and well-prepared for the next growing season.
#7 Pests and Weeds: Pre-Winter Treatments to Keep Your Lawn Healthy
If you have pests or diseases in your lawn, look for a combination fertilizer/weedkiller/pesticide product. There are plenty of options that take care of pests and weeds while feeding your lawn the nutrients it needs to thrive.
Complete these Essential Lawn Tasks Before Winter
Do you want a beautiful lawn in the spring? Following these essential tasks before winter is upon us is key to a healthy, green lawn next year. It’s a great time to get started.
Pioneer Underground Lawn Sprinklers | Sprinkler System Repairs and Maintenance Omaha, NE
Contact Pioneer Underground Lawn Sprinklers to schedule a free estimate on a system install or to find out what you can do to make your existing system more efficient. We welcome commercial and residential clients. And remember, whether you need our services now… or later in the season, Your Healthy Lawn is Our Passion and we are only a phone call away.
